'Which you gave me for natural love and affection.'
''Deed, then 'twas because you were poor an' motherless in a strange land, but now the gold's a worry to you, I doubt.'
Jim laughed and shook his head. 'I want a loaf,' he said. 'My mate is hungry and waiting.'
'Heigho!' sighed Aurora; 'devil a scrap of gallantry have these slips of boys, Quigley! You wouldn't leave me for all the mates on earth, would you, now?'
The big bearded digger banged his fist on the counter, and swore a firm, fluent oath that he would not.
'Worse luck,' added Aurora, with a twinkling eye. 'Here's yer bread,
Teddy-was-me-darlin', an' ye'd have it fer love if 'twas me own to give.'
Aurora assumed and dropped the musical brogue according to her whim. Ordinarily her English was as pure as Mrs. Kyley's, and Mrs. Kyley had the reputation of being a lady of vast attainments.
'There's the money,' said Jim, 'and will you take this for the dance?' He offered her a nugget he had picked from the week's yield, a flat, heart-shaped slug, curiously embossed.
''Deed, an' it's mighty fine,' said the girl, 'but I'd rather have ye me debtor for life.'
'Take it for natural love and affection, then.'