"You've a deal of machinery here, Mr.Medlicot," he said.
"It's a small affair, after all," said the other.

"I hope to get a good plant before I've done." "Can I speak a word with you ?" "Certainly.

Will you come into the office, or will you go across to the house ?" Harry said that the office would do, and followed Medlicot into a little box-like inclosure which contained a desk and two stools.
"Not much of an office, is it?
What can I do for you, Mr.Heathcote ?" Then Harry began his story, which he told at considerable length.

He apologized for troubling his neighbor at all on the subject, and endeavored to explain, somewhat awkwardly, that as Mr.Medlicot was a new-comer, he probably might not understand the kind of treatment to which employers in the bush were occasionally subject from their men.
On this matter he said much, which, had he been a better tactician, he might probably have left unspoken.

He then went on to the story of his own quarrel with Nokes, who had, in truth, been grossly impudent to the women about the house, but who had been punished by instant and violent dismissal from his employment.