said the trooper, delivering him into his
mother's arms. 'It's the confinement. Let him run about as usual, Mrs.
Haddon; let him have lots of fresh air, particularly night air, and he'll
soon be all right. At night, Mrs. Haddon, the air is fresh and healthy.
Let him run about in the evenings, you know.'

Mrs. Haddon was very grateful for the advice and promised to act
upon it. But Dick was a new boy; he remained in doors all Saturday
and Sunday, wandering about the house in an aimless manner, trying
to read and failing, trying to divert himself in unusual ways and
failing in everything. He presented all the symptoms of a guilty,
conscience-stricken wretch; and his mother, who had been priming
him with camomile surreptitiously, began to lose confidence in that
wonderful herb.

Meanwhile a very interesting stranger had made his appearance at Waddy;
he was believed to be a drover, and he was on the spree and 'shouting'
with spontaneity and freedom. His horse, a fine upstanding bay, stood
saddled and bridled under McMahon's shed at the Drovers' Arms by day and
night. His behaviour in drink was original and erratic. He would
fraternise with the man at the bar for a time, and then go roaming at
large about the township in a desultory way, sleeping casually in all
sorts of absurd places; but Waddy had a large experience in 'drunks' and
made liberal allowances.

Miss Chris called in at Mrs. Haddon's home on evening shortly after tea.
She had not been to chapel, and was anxious about her father, who had
absented himself from his duties as superintendent of late and whose
behaviour had been most extraordinary when she called on him on two or
three occasions during the week. She was afraid of fever, and sought
advice from Mrs. Haddon, who unhesitatingly recommended camomile tea.
Then Dick's ailment was discussed and Chris, much concerned, went and sat
by the boy, who cowered over his book, too full to answer her kind
inquiries. She put an arm about him and talked with tender solicitude;
she sympathised with him in his troubles, and was angry with all his
enemies, more especially the police, whose folly amazed her. Here a large
tear rolled down Dick's nose and splashed upon the open page, and when
she pressed him to tell all he might know and not to suffer abuse and
shame to shield some wicked villain, he quite collapsed, and sat with his
head sunk upon his arms, sobbing hysterically. This was so unlike the boy
that Christina wa