[CHAPTER XIX]
THE WELCOME AT WANDOO
"Things change," said Jack, as he and Tom drove along in the sulky, "and they never go back to what they were before."
"Seems like they don't," said Tom uneasily.
"And men change," continued Jack. "I have changed, and I shall never go back to what I was before."
"Oh dry up," said the nervous Tom. "You're just the blanky same."
Both boys felt a load on their spirits, now they were actually on the road home. They hated the load too.
"We're going to make some change at Wandoo," said Tom. "I wish I could leave Ma on the place. But Mr. George says she absolutely refuses to stay, and he says I've not got to try an' force her. He sortta winked at me, and told me I should want to be settlin' down myself. I wondered what 'n hell he meant. Y'aven't let on nothing about that Honeysuckle trip, have y'? I don't mean to insult you by askin', but it seemed kinder funny like."
"No," said Jack. "I've not breathed Honeysuckle to a soul, and never will. You get it off your mind—it's nothing."
"Well, then, I dunno what he meant. I told him I hadn't made a bean anyhow. An' I asked him what 'n hell Ma was goin' ter live on. He seemed a bit down in the mouth about 'er himself, old George did. Fair gave me the bally hump. Wisht I was still up north, strike me lucky I do.