They lived upon grass, and, Harry always said, "cut their own bread-and-butter for themselves." Gangoil was certainly very pretty.

The veranda was covered in with striped blinds, so that when the sun shone hot, or when the rains fell heavily, or when the mosquitoes were more than usually troublesome, there might be something of the protection of an inclosed room.

Up all the posts there were flowering creepers, which covered the front with greenery even when the flowers were wanting.
From the front of the house down to the creek there was a pleasant failing garden--heart-breaking, indeed, in regard to vegetables, for the opossums always came first, and they who followed the opossums got but little.

But the garden gave a pleasant home-like look to the place, and was very dear to Harry, who was, perhaps, indifferent in regard to pease and tomatoes.

Harry Heathcote was very proud of the place, for he had made it all himself, having pulled down a wretched barrack that he had found there.