What right had this man to cross-examine him about his enmities--the man whose own position in the place had been one of hostility to him, whom he had almost suspected of harboring Nokes at the mill simply because Nokes had been dismissed from Gangoil?
That suspicion was, indeed, fading away.
There was something in Medlicot's voice and manner which made it impossible to attribute such motives to him.

Nevertheless the man was a free-selector, and had taken a bit of the Gangoil run after a fashion which to Heathcote was objectionable politically, morally, and socially.

Let Medlicot in regard to character be what he might, he was a free-selector, and a squatter's enemy, and had clinched his hostility by employing a servant dismissed from the very run out of which he had bought his land.

"It is hard to say," he replied at length, "who have grudges, as against whom, or why.

I suppose I have a great grudge against you, if the truth is to be known; but I sha'n't burn down your mill." "I'm sure you won't." "Nor yet say worse of you behind your back than I will to your face." "I don't want you to think that you have occasion to speak ill of me, either one way or the other.