'"If I had been content, as so many are, to take the words of thieving brokers, instead of coming here to see for myself, we would probably have trebled our little haul from the Celestial Hills. But it's no use crying over spilt milk. And I am determined that neither you nor I will ask a loan or an advance from your father or——"'
Laurette stopped short.
'That close-fisted hunks of a brother of yours, that's about it, isn't it?' said Ted, without a soupçon of malice. 'Don't mind me, Larry; Tareling and I understand each other. Well, what then?'
'"But we must at once leave Melbourne. So please put the house immediately in Sibworth's hands, and make all your preparations for leaving on or before the 24th of this month."'
Ted gave a low whistle, and Laurette folded up the letter with an inimitable air of resignation.
'But if you go, then, what of Stella's visit?' said Ted, with folds in his brow.
'Stella's visit?' repeated Laurette absently. 'Oh, to be sure! To tell you the truth, my dear Ted, I am too much taken aback by the position to think much of anything beyond the domestic horizon. It is so sudden—yes, and unexpected—for if Talbot had had a little luck we should have paid off nearly all our little arrears; and then, of course, there would be the shearing in October.'
Laurette avoided allusion to the fact that this had been long ago discounted and the advance used up, and creditors appeased only with fictitious promises of payment after the shearing already disposed of.
'Of course you will see Stella at her own home, though I think there is something in the wind about her going abroad with Mrs. Raymond. It is to her I trace the rumour that has set Stella—— But there, I must not mix up things and other people's secrets!'
'Larry, you mustn't leave—you mustn't give up Monico Lodge till after September.'