He took his pipe from his mouth, and knocked the ashes out of it against the arm of his chair, while he seemed to be considering the question.

Then, as if he had formed a definite determination, he leaned forward and addressed his wife in a forcedly matter-of-fact tone.
'I don't suppose you know much about what has been going on, Biddy.

The same boat that brought up the specials brought a hundred or more free labourers, and they're on their way up to the different sheep-stations along the river--a lot of them for Breeza Downs, where Windeatt has begun shearing.

Windeatt is in a blue funk because a report that a little army of Unionists, all mounted and armed, are camped that way and threatening to burn down his wool-shed and sack his store.

The burned old Duppo's wool-shed last week.' 'He's a skinflint, and I'm sure he deserved it,' put in Lady Bridget indifferently.
McKeith check a dry sarcasm.