nd put up at M'Grath's pub. until such time as we made up our
minds as to what we'd do or where we'd go. We had an idea of waiting
until the shearing season started and then making Out-Back to the big
sheds.

Neither of us was in a hurry to go and face Mrs Baker. 'We'll go after
dinner,' said Andy at first; then after dinner we had a drink, and felt
sleepy--we weren't used to big dinners of roast-beef and vegetables and
pudding, and, besides, it was drowsy weather--so we decided to have a
snooze and then go. When we woke up it was late in the afternoon, so we
thought we'd put it off till after tea. 'It wouldn't be manners to walk
in while they're at tea,' said Andy--'it would look as if we only came
for some grub.'

But while we were at tea a little girl came with a message that Mrs
Baker wanted to see us, and would be very much obliged if we'd call
up as soon as possible. You see, in those small towns you can't move
without the thing getting round inside of half an hour.

'We'll have to face the music now!' said Andy, 'and no get out of it.'
He seemed to hang back more than I did. There was another pub. opposite
where Mrs Baker lived, and when we got up the street a bit I said to
Andy--

'Suppose we go and have another drink first, Andy? We might be kept in
there an hour or two.'

'You don't want another drink,' said Andy, rather short. 'Why, you seem
to be going the same way as the Boss!' But it was Andy that edged off
towards the pub. when we got near Mrs Baker's place. 'All right!' he
said. 'Come on! We'll have this other drink, since you want it so bad.'

We had the drink, then we buttoned up our coats and started across the
road--we'd bought new shirts and collars, and spruced up a bit. Half-way
across Andy grabbed my arm and asked--

'How do you feel now, Jack?'

'Oh, I'M all right,' I said.

'For God's sake!' said Andy, 'don't put your foot in it and make a mess
of it.'

'I won't, if you don't.'

Mrs Baker's cottage was a little weather-board box affair back in a
garden. When we went in through the gate Andy gripped my arm again and
whispered--

'For God's sake stick to me now, Jack!'

'I'll stick all right,' I said--'you've been having too much beer,
Andy.'

I had seen Mrs Baker before, and remembered her as a cheerful, contented
sort of woman, bustling about the house and getting the Boss's shirts
and things ready when we started North. Just the sort of woman that is
contented with housewor