'That's it, I suppose--I'm sorry I didn't sling the whip harder and cut the fellow's cheek open.

I would if I'd thought....!' He stopped again.
'What woman?
Have I a rival?
This is becoming dramatic!' Lady Bridget's voice was amusedly ironic, but she carried her head erect.

'Tell me about the woman at the Bachelors' Quarters, Colin.' 'There's nothing to tell, except that's she's the widow of a man who went up with me on my last Big Bight expedition, and was killed--partly through his own, and partly through my, fault.

That's why I've made a point of looking after her, and I built my Bachelor's Quarters chiefly to give her a job.

I thought she was too young and too good looking to be drawing grog for diggers at Fig Tree Mount--which was what she set out doing.' 'I see....