Ellison glanced at the woman. She laughed and nodded.
"Yes, I have put him on as book-keeper and store-man. It's a billet worth a pound a week and his keep."
"It is very generous of you."
"Oh, but that's not all. If you care to stay you can do so as general knockabout hand on the same terms. There will be a good deal that will want looking to now that you've disabled Paddy the Lasher. You can occupy the hut where you are now, and I'll tell Rhotoma Jimmy to serve your meals in the barracks across the way."
"I hope we shall show ourselves worthy of your trust."
"I hope you will; but no more black eyes, remember. The sooner you get rid of the one you're wearing the better I shall like you. You'll find my father, when he returns, will take to you sooner without it. And now you'd better go and get your teas."
She rose to go inside. They stepped from the veranda. Ellison happened to look round. Her head was half turned, and she was watching him. Their eyes met, and the next moment she had vanished into the house.
The two men walked across to their hut in silence. When they reached it, they sat themselves down on their respective beds and looked at each other. Murkard opened the conversation.
"You were going to say that you cannot imagine why she has done this? Isn't that so?"
"Yes. I was just going to do so. How on earth did you guess it?"