CHAPTER 8.
The first dinner-party given by Sir Luke and Lady Tallant at Government House included Mrs Gildea and Colin McKeith.
These two met in the vestibule as they emerged respectively from the ladies' and gentlemen's cloak-room.

Both held back to allow certain Members of the Ministry to enter the drawing-room before them, which gave opportunity for an interchange of greetings.
'Well!' both said at once, and the tones in which the monosyllable was uttered and the glances accompanying it held volumes of hidden meaning.
'I haven't seen you since the Governor arrived,' Joan went on.

'Where have you been all these three weeks ?' 'At Alexandra City, close on the desert, where they bored for water and struck ready-made gas--the whole place now is lighted with it.

If you like, I'll give you material for a first-rate article upon an uncommon phenomenon of Nature.' 'Thank you.

I shall be grateful.