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

242 THE FOOT OF TIME
honest man when he smelt one, and took no stock
of clothing. Be the beggar ever so ragged, if his
soul was right within him, the dog intuitively appeared
to sense it, while the most polished Agency
sharper invariably found he had made a mistake
in the address. In time the hound Bruno had become
a well known character in Vaucluse, and no
house was so carefully considered by prospective
callers.
Bruno's reception of Edith on the occasion in
question was eloquent. It seemed to say, "I know
how you feel, young lady. Poor old stick-in-themud,
then!" and the brute walked by her side with
stately introduction to his mistress. It was a moot
point with Edith Burne which was her greatest
passion—dogs or horses? And now aeroplanes had
stepped into the picture. When asked, the girl gave
the palm to dogs every time, though one might
have been tempted to think otherwise in her
father's paddocks.
"Dogs, of course!" Edith would answer any such
enquiry. "Why?" "Oh, of course, because they
are not only much the most intelligent, but principally
because dogs are so unselfish. Horses have
great intelligence of instinct, but it's all tummy."
She would laugh at this, apologising for her way
of putting it. "Look at a cat, now," Edith would
go on. "Why does it rub against one? Simply, or
at any rate, mainly because it likes the feeling of
rubbing. Dogs, on the other hand, are really and
honestly fond of you. They love you undeserved,
for yourself alone, don't they, Bruno, old boy?"
THE FOOT OF TIME 243
And if Bruno were present, he would say as plainly
as ever dog spake that he was certainly of one mind
with her.
Seated in Clare's little library, Edith unbosomed
herself.
"Dear Mrs. Swinton," she began, "I felt I had to
tell you. Bruce came down to see me at Orange
yesterday. You can guess what for, but somehow
I can't do it. I can't explain why, you know what
we women are, and
"I think I understand, dear," Clare said simply.
"I'd rather you didn't try to go into explanations.
You must do what you feel deep inside you to be
best."
"It is sweet of you to take it like that, I
"I think it was nice of you to come to me like
this, Edith," Clare interrupted. "But are you sure
you quite understand my boy? I mean, you are very
young yet, you might alter your mind."
Edith turned very pale. "Oh, no, Mrs. Swinton,
I don't think—I mean, it's quite final. You see—"
"Yes, I can easily realise how you feel, Edith, but
perhaps you don't quite know Bruce. I wouldn't
be quite too certain of yourself if I were you, dear."
"But you see, in any case, I mean even if I felt
differently about it. Father would always prevent me
from marrying Bruce because of his father, you
know, Mrs. Swinton."
"Thank you for coming and telling me, my
dear," Clare said, "and now there is something
I want to ask you. You are the very person, curiously,
that I wanted most to see to-day. Your com-