'I've had no fixed address since I came down,' he said. 'They've overlooked me, I suppose, because they don't know I exist; I hardly do, you know.'
'Are any of the others down with you?' asked Mortimer—'Bart or Roly or any of them?'
'Oh no,' said Cameron. 'Some one has to mind the landed property against my return.'
'And are they all well?' pursued Mortimer. 'Roly—wasn't Roly looking a little thin before I left?'
'Oh no,' Cameron said, 'he's right enough. The girls feel the life more than he and Bart. My eldest girl seemed very off colour when I left?'
'Not typhoid?' burst out Mortimer. 'I saw in the paper it had broken out in Wilgandra——'
'Oh no, we're too far for that. Nothing but the heat. Was that Timon I saw among the horses?'
'Yes, I brought him and the governor's favourite roan down—he made me have him.'
'Mortimer—I'm compelled to ask—I cannot do without—my wife—Challis—suit—make them ashamed——' Cameron's voice choked.
'Confound that Brady!' said Mortimer, springing up and upsetting his chair; 'takes as long to get a lemon squash as if I'd sent him to town for it. If it had been a bottle of whiskey, now, no delay then; might come in for a spare glass himself. You r'mber Brady, rouseabout up at Coolooli, gives a home-touch to see him about. He volunteered the same time as I. I say, I'm off duty now for the rest of the day—may as well come back to town and have a bit of spree. Brooks, I say Brooks, go and see if there's a spare cab, there's a good fellow.' Another coin went into another rough fellow's hand.