'd set the dogs on you if she were in her own country, sir,"
Brennan remarked, when at last they drove away from the house with a
final envenomed shaft ringing in their ears. "I don't think the old man
is the only one who has a taste for the drink, if you ask me, sir."

CHAPTER XIV

THE LAST STRAW

Since Mrs. Eustace returned to the township Harding had never once been
to see her nor, when passing the house, had he glanced at it.

His attitude was inexplicable to her. That she had not had even a word
from him while she was at Taloona perplexed her, for it did not occur to
her to question whether he had received the message she left with Bessie
for him. Yet there were several reasons which might account for that
omission. But his failure either to see or to communicate with her after
her return to Waroona was entirely another matter.

When the third day came without a sign or word from him she took the
bull by the horns and sent a note asking him to see her that evening.

She was waiting for him in her sitting-room when she heard him come to
the door, heard him ask Bessie if she were at home, heard him approach
the room. As he opened the door she rose to greet him. He stopped on the
threshold.

"I received your note--you wish to see me?" he said stiffly.

"Fred!" she exclaimed, looking at him in amazement. "Why, what has
happened? Why do you speak so? What is it?"

He remained where he was, silent.

"Don't you wish to see me?" she asked, still regarding him with a look
of wondering amazement. "Has anything happened? Is that the reason you
have never been to see me since I came back--why you never sent a word
to me at Taloona? Have they--have they found out anything more about
Charlie?"

He closed the door and walked across to the table by the side of which
she was standing.

"Mrs. Eustace," he began, but before he could say more she interrupted
him.

"You have something unpleasant to say. What is it? At least be frank.
Whatever it is I am prepared to hear it."

He took the letter from his pocket.

"This came into my possession the night we were at Taloona," he said
slowly. "I should have returned it to you at once, but it slipped my
memory until after you had gone. Then, accidentally, unthinkingly, I
came to read it. I--I wish to hear what you have to say about it. I wish
to know----" The sentences he had so carefully thought out fled from his
brain before the calm, steadfast look with which sh