'No, James, thank you. A fire? You know I never have one lit in this room until October. This is only September.'
'Yes, sir; but unusually cold to-day is.'
Mr. Carmichael returned to his breakfast and meditation. In a few seconds, however, he looked up again and smiled.
'Do you remember that it was in September, ten years ago, that we returned from Australia, you and I, James?'
'Yes, sir, that I do. It was a capital journey, so we was told, but the sea was a deal too playful for my tastes.'
'Tut, tut; the sea was smooth—perfectly smooth—most of the time. You will not have forgotten the "station" then, the homestead, and little Miss Catherine?'
'The young lady as used to ride better than most men do over here, sir? It was a sight, and no mistake, to see her clearing the paling round that place they called the Gum Paddock—and she not more than fourteen or fifteen, or thereabouts.'
'I never gossip,' said the old gentleman, after another pause.
'No, sir; of course not.'
'I had a reason when I spoke about the journey to and from Australia, and the "homestead" where I stayed, You have served me tolerably well, and I am sure loyally, to the best of your ability for so long now, James, that I feel able to talk to you as I would to none of your fellow-servants.'