Lady Bridget, at any rate, had a great deal to say for herself, and Mrs Gildea wondered what was going to come of it all.
Conversation became more general as champagne flowed and the courses proceeded.
Sir Luke, discreetly on the prowl for information, attacked Antipodean questions--the Blacks for instance.

He had observed the small company of natives theatrically got up in the war-paint of former times, which, grouped round the dais on which he had been received at the State Landing, had furnished an effective bit of local colour to the pageant.
Up to what degree of latitude might these semi-civilised, and he feared demoralised beings, be taken as a survival of the indigenous population of Leichardt's Land?
Did wild and dangerous Blacks still exist up north and in the interior of the Colony?
'You'd better ask McKeith about that, your Excellency,' said the Premier.

'He knows more about the Blacks up north than any of us.' The Governor enquired as to the amenability of the Australian native to missionary methods of civilisation, and one of the other Ministers broke in with a laugh.
'Bible in one hand and baccy in the other! No, Sir, the Exeter Hall and General Gordon principles aren't workable with our Blacks.

Kindness doesn't do.

The early pioneers soon found that out.' Lady Bridget had stopped suddenly in her talk with Colin, and was listening, her eyes glowering at her companion.
'Why didn't kindness do ?' she asked sharply.
'Yes; Mr McKeith, tell us why the early pioneers abandoned the gentle method,' said the Governor.
McKeith's face changed: it became dark and a dangerous fire blazed in his blue eyes.
'Because they found that the Blacks repaid kindness with ingratitude--treachery--foul murder--' He pulled himself up as though afraid of losing command of himself if he pursued the subject: his voice thrilled with some deep-seated feeling.