the same as my own Clem--that's Clemintiner--understand?--"if
you'll keep Janey with you," he says, "for a year, or maybe two
years, or maybe three years--'cause that depends on
cirkinstances"--understand?--"I'm ready," he says, "to pay you what
it's right that pay I should, an' I'm sure," he says, "as we shouldn't
misunderstand one another." Well, of course I had my own girl to
bring up, an' my own son to look after too. A nice sort o' son; just
when he was beginnin' to do well, an' ought to a paid me back for
all the expense I was at in puttin' him to a business, what must he
do but take his 'ook to Australia.'

Her scrutiny discerned something in the listener's face which led
her to ask:

'Perhaps you've been in Australia yourself, mister?'

'I have.'

The woman paused, speculation at work in her eyes.

'Do you know in what part of the country your son is?' inquired the
old man absently.

'He's wrote me two letters, an' the last, as come more than a year
ago, was from a place called Maryborough.'

The other still preserved an absent expression; his eyes travelled
about the room.

'I always said,' pursued Mrs. Peckover, 'as it was Snowdon as put