ugh life you lead at Taloona
makes it very difficult for you to get up your strength after the
experience you have had."

He smiled grimly--his facial muscles had been so long strangers to
anything approaching tokens of mirth or pleasure that they did not move
easily.

"I suppose it is a bit rough out there," he said. "But then, you see,
I'm used to a rough life--I've had it all my days. Is that why you
wouldn't stay? Was it too rough for you?"

He looked round the little sitting-room in which she had the furniture
and nicknacks from her room at the bank.

"There's a bit of a difference I will say," he went on as she did not
reply. "It's a flower-garden to a stock-yard to compare this room with
the hut you had out at Taloona. Look here. I'll build a new house, build
it as big as you like or as little as you like, and you shall furnish it
and fit it up just as you fancy--if you'll only make it a home for
yourself."

She shook her head.

"No, Mr. Dudgeon, I am afraid that is impossible," she said. "At the
same time, I want to thank you very much for what you say."

"Look here," he exclaimed. "I don't want thanks. You know what my life
has been--I told you the story often enough when I was lying sick and
you were waiting on me like an angel--oh, I mean it," he added, as she
looked up. "Just let me say what I've got to say. When you came back
here, and I was by myself again, I began to think. Somehow the old views
didn't seem quite to fit together. There was something wrong somewhere
and I reckon that somewhere was me. I've put a wrong twist on things. It
never struck me there was more than one woman in the world who could do
anything to make me contented. So I set out to make money. I made it,
made it by the ton. And now I've got it what's the good of it to me?"

"There is no limit to the good it may be if it is properly applied, Mr.
Dudgeon."

"Where will it do good?" he exclaimed. "That's just what I want to know.
Tell me."

"There are hospitals," she said. "And schools. You might found
scholarships for poor students to----"

"And chapels and missions and dogs' homes--go on, trot out the whole
list," he interrupted. "None of them will ever get a pennypiece out of
me. More than half the money given to them goes to keep a lot of lazy,
patronising officials in luxury--I know--I've come in contact with them
when they have been cadging after me for subscriptions. They cringe till
they find out there's nothing f