k, and I drew a long face and said that I was sorry
to say it was true. She asked me if you had any friends, and I said none
that I knew of, except me. I said that you'd lost all your friends; they
stuck to you as long as they could, but they had to give you best, one
after the other.'

'What next?'

'She asked me if you were delicate, and I said no, you were as tough as
fencing-wire. She said you looked rather pale and thin, and asked me if
you'd had an illness lately. And I said no--it was all on account of
the wild, dissipated life you'd led. She said it was a pity you hadn't
a mother or a sister to look after you--it was a pity that something
couldn't be done for you, and I said it was, but I was afraid that
nothing could be done. I told her that I was doing all I could to keep
you straight.'

I knew enough of Jack to know that most of this was true. And so she
only pitied me after all. I felt as if I'd been courting her for six
months and she'd thrown me over--but I didn't know anything about women
yet.

'Did you tell her I was in jail?' I growled.

'No, by Gum! I forgot that. But never mind I'll fix that up all right.
I'll tell her that you got two years' hard for horse-stealing. That
ought to make her interested in you, if she isn't already.'

We smoked a while.

'And was that all she said?' I asked.

'Who?--Oh! 'Possum,' said Jack rousing himself. 'Well--no; let me
think---- We got chatting of other things--you know a married man's
privileged, and can say a lot more to a girl than a single man can. I
got talking nonsense about sweethearts, and one thing led to another
till at last she said, "I suppose Mr Wilson's got a sweetheart, Mr
Barnes?"'

'And what did you say?' I growled.

'Oh, I told her that you were a holy terror amongst the girls,' said
Jack. 'You'd better take back that tray, Joe, and let us get to work.'

I wouldn't take back the tray--but that didn't mend matters, for Jack
took it back himself.

I didn't see Mary's reflection in the window again, so I took the window
out. I reckoned that she was just a big-hearted, impulsive little thing,
as many Australian girls are, and I reckoned that I was a fool for
thinking for a moment that she might give me a second thought, except
by way of kindness. Why! young Black and half a dozen better men than me
were sweet on her, and young Black was to get his father's station and
the money--or rather his mother's money, for she held the stuff (she