l. His logic was being
battered to death. He felt his position weakening. It began to dawn
on him that he was a conservative Britisher, who had simply been
uttering the parrot talk of hide-bound Tories. "You know, Miss Graham,
you're beginning to make me feel that I should go to Australia."

"If we were there now I would just whisk you away in my car and show
you the Bush. I do love to convince people, especially folks from the
old land. Then, Mr. Jones, you would see how free, how charming life
is in the Bush. We have all got beautiful homes, plenty of horses,
motors, even electric light on some of the stations. In fact, I know
of one old squatter who can produce a butler and footmen in breeches.
You can have joy rides on motors, picnics miles from civilisation, and
dances with the jolliest band of girls and boys I've seen. Everything
is natural, all is delightful. I love Australia. I'm awfully proud of
it. And I'm proud of those boys over there and all the others who have
come to help the old land. Don't judge them by trivial things, Mr.
Jones. If they're unconventional, and not good at saluting, they'll
stick to any man who can lead them through. In fact, they can fight
just as the Tommies did at Waterloo and Mons."

"Well," said Jones with a gasp, "you're an absolute revelation. I have
never quite met your type before."

"I'm different--Australian, eh?"

"And very nice too. That's honey, as you call it. But I have said it
and you needn't protest," he said with boyish enthusiasm. "Do you
think the girls would be kind to me if I went to Australia?"

"They'd spoil you; they spoil all Englishmen."

"Why?"

"Because they like them. They don't pick holes in them as you pick
holes in us."

"I'm sorry, really I'm sorry. I had no intention to offend."

"You're a good fellow spoiled, as Jack Gordon said."

"Thanks," said Mr. Jones, secretly pleased.

"You know, Mr. Jones, I know a most charming Englishman. He was our
Jackaroo. A public school man, he landed at our door and asked for a
job. He had a glass eye and insisted on wearing that and a white
indiarubber collar when working round the show. They ragged him, but
he stood it all. When they went too far he simply took off his jacket
and punched them soft. No matter what dirty job he got, he did it and
never whined. He had no airs, and never trumpeted his family lineage
or his school. He was just a dear, lovable English gentleman, wh