The old woman sat still, and clasped her hands nervously. Mary tried to look cheerful, and moved the saucepan on the fire. A big, dark-bearded man, mounted on a small horse, was seen in the twilight driving a steer towards the cow-yard. A boy ran to let down the slip-rails.
Presently Mary and her mother heard the clatter of rails let down and put up again, and a minute later a heavy step like the tread of a horse was heard outside. The selector lumbered in, threw his hat in a corner, and sat down by the table. His wife rose and bustled round with simulated cheerfulness. Presently Mary hazarded—
“Where have you been, father?”
“Somewheers.”
There was a wretched silence, lasting until the old woman took courage to say timidly:
“So you've brought a steer, Wylie?”
“Yes!” he snapped; the tone seemed defiant.
The old woman's hands trembled, so that she dropped a cup. Mary turned a shade paler.
“Here, git me some tea. Git me some TEA!” shouted Mr. Wylie. “I ain't agoin' to sit here all night!”
His wife made what haste her nervousness would allow, and they soon sat down to tea. Jack, the eldest son, was sulky, and his father muttered something about knocking the sulks out of him with an axe.