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

234 THE FOOT OF TIME
that's saying some, for a finer, better-looking,
cleaner-living nation of young man'ood as there is
in this country"—Mr. Burne's eloquence was beginning
to prove beyond his powers—"well, there
isn't any better. It isn't me as is saying it—it's recognised,
the world admits it—admits it grudgingly
at times, but facts is stubborn as asses. You're an
Aussie yourself, you ought to know. What gave
you your upstanding figure of young manhood, I
should like to ask—what gave it you?"
"Australia!" replied Bruce, and the boy flushed
as he said it.
"Why, damme, Bruce! Look, lad, I could love
you, swop me! But it goes hard to me to see things
turn this way, but it 'ad to be. The Almighty
planned it all for the best."
"Oh, cut the cant, Sir!"
"Look, boy, in case of accidents—just in case of
'em, understand this: Never again darken these
doors. I don't trust you. You're too darned 'andsome
by 'arf. Never come here again till the day
you can come honourably married in the face of
man and God. Then I'll know Edith's safe from
you. Never come 'ere again, then, till you can walk
in married and till, on top of that, you can tell me,
man to man, that I've been informed wrong—that
your father is as honourably married to your Ma
as what I am to the missus. If you could be in a
position to tell me that (whether so be as you did
tell me or didn't, so long as you could do so) , that
day I even give you my sanction for you to take
THE FOOT OF TIME
235
our Edie. We'll part friends, I 'ope, for I've nothing
agin you, boy. I've said it. Haven't I said
it?"
"You have, Mr. Burne."
"Well, then, that's understood. The day can't
never come—the Almighty pity you! —but if so be
it could; if so be as you could tell me on your
`Alfred-David' that you had a honourable father
and mother rightly married to each other, that day,
without so much as telling me, you may marry
Edith if she'll take you. Contrawise, you can come
'ere as a guest and bring your wife with you, to
introduce her, like. Why, damme, I'd let you bolt
with our gal if only your father's besmudged besmudgment
wasn't besmudged! Now, good-bye to
you laddie. Thank you again more than I can say
for what you did for our dear girl, and give me
your promise, like a good man, that you won't
never come here again unless you come honourably
married to some gal or other and in a position to
assure me that you are as honourable a man in the
sight of God and Heaven as what I am."
"I see your point, Mr. Burne," replied Bruce
Swinton, "and I give you my word of honour I
never will."
"Spoken like a man!" ejaculated Burne with a
burst, relieved beyond measure that his natural fear
that Edith might yet be carried away by the attractions
of her lover were at last dispelled. "If
only your name could be cleared, boy—but there,
it's no use wishing it; it never can, so what's the
use of talking? If it could, I'd like you to marry