"Thought it was about time I came to see how my patient was," said the big man. "Hullo, old chap; your Dad says you're nearly all right. Looks a bit washy yet, don't he?"
"I'm quite well," Garth said eagerly. "When can I take my arm out of this old sling?"
Nick O'Connor laughed.
"Seems to think I'm his doctor, don't he? Well, I wouldn't be in a hurry for a few days. You don't want a weak wrist, do you? And when you do take it out, mind you wear a wrist-strap." He turned back to Aileen. "And how d'you like Gippsland, Mrs. Macleod?"
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said. "I never saw such a lovely country."
"Oh, it's pretty enough. But there's no fortunes to be made here; it's hard scratchin' for a living. I was just askin' your husband what he was thinkin' of doin' with the place."
"I'm hanged if I know," said Tom. "My predecessor didn't do much."
"Queer chap, ol' Gordon," said their guest. "He wasn't the sort of fellow you could talk to at all: lived by himself, and never spoke to no one. Him and that kid Horrors. I wish I'd known you were coming in; some of us would a' done something to the house. Awful dirty, I suppose it was, Mrs. Macleod?"
"It was pretty bad," she said. She caught his eye, and laughed.
"Pretty bad!" said Tom explosively. "Of all the pigsties——!"