"Conal's been expected the last couple of days to take charge of them," somebody told him. "But he's not come yet, and the Schoolmaster's beating the town for a man to drive 'em to the hills for him. The boys 've all cleared out to the rush. Dan's goin' to take them himself in the morning."
CHAPTER XXIV
Mrs. Cameron was not seen in Wirreeford during those months of her husband's illness. Cameron drove into the township unexpectedly one day when the sales were in progress and she was with him. He went to the yards and she turned the horse, a sturdy daughter of old Lassie, back along the road and halted her outside the Schoolmaster's cottage.
Deirdre went out to meet her.
"I only heard you were back a few days ago, Deirdre," Mrs. Cameron said.
"Didn't Davey tell you?" Deirdre asked.
"No," his mother replied.
They went indoors and Mrs. Cameron sat with her back to the window in the Schoolmaster's wicker chair. Deirdre noticed that she looked older and wearier than when she had last seen her.
"They tell me you're to marry Conal, the drover, dear," Mrs. Cameron said.