The Foot of Time: A Novel of Australia and the South Seas: (1933)

114 THE FOOT OF TIME
"What?" Clare spoke tersely, feverishly. It was
as though some echo of her own fear was on the
mind of Edith's Aunt. "What are you afraid of?"
"Blood outing, my dear, just that. Now, don't go
fretting your pretty self. Boys will be boys. At
least, some of them will. Your boy has had a bad
start—hereditary, Mrs. Swinton. I'm an old fool
to say so, but I'm only outing my views in case—
just in case. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
You've broken your heart once, don't go and break
it again. Let the boy have a good fling, I say. Don't
hurry matters. Then he will settle down all the
better."
"But he is as straight, as straight, Miss Tooth."
"I didn't suggest the boy wasn't, my dear. He's
gone off to the Island, and with Pinkerton, I think
you said."
"Yes. I didn't say who his friend was, though."
"Ever met Pinkerton?"
"No."
"I have, my dear, that's all. I have. But Edith
doesn't know it. A fine, handsome young fellow.
Too handsome by half, Mrs. Swinton—much too
handsome. Pity Bruce didn't choose someone else.
Still, perhaps it's as well. He'll work between
traces all the better later on. Don't hurry the marriage,
my dear, that's my last word except one
other. It's this: encourage them; they'll need it.
See if they don't. Be ready for anything."
"I am," said Clare—and she meant it.
CHAPTER XIII.
WILLIAM BURNE AND COMPANY.
"DARTER seems sweet on this young Bruce Swinton
cove, Mother."
Mr. Burne was sitting in the old kitchen parlour
of the farm homestead, smoking his pipe after
the mid-day meal. The temperature registered 90
degrees, though the elevation of Orange was very
nearly three thousand feet above sea-level. One of
Australia's dry spells was ruling. Bush and grass
fires abounded. The grass was brown and withered,
the water dams nearly dry. All the farm
animals came up to the outhouses to be fed, finding
no grazing outside. But the crops of Burne's farm
looked healthy in spite of it. Cultivating, the hoe
and much labour retained moisture in the splendid
soil, and in spite of drought, all was well with the
farm.
"I'm sure he is a very nice young man, Daddy.
Don't you think so?"
"I've nought ag'in him, Mother. Leastways,
nought as I know on. He isn't one of our church,
but there, I pride myself I ain't no bigot. If so be,
he's a God-fearing boy, and makes good with his
shipbuilding ideas, I shan't stand in our darling's
way. Bless her lovely 'eart. I'm that there proud
of our gal, Mother, that there—" Mr. Burne