any suspense or bother. Take it or leave it, just as you like.
There's Wilkinson and Fairwright and a lot of others all clamouring
for the refusal of it, and I've only waited to see if you really
wanted it before closing with Fairwright. He is walking about with
a cheque all ready filled up in his pocket, and only begging and
praying me to let him have the run on my own terms. Why you might
be weather-bound or kept there for a month, and what shall I do
then? No, its all just as I've told you, and you can call it your
own to-morrow, but I can't possibly wait for you to go and look at
it." No words of mine can give any idea of the tone of scorn in
which our guest pronounced these last three words; as if looking at
an intended purchase was at once the meanest and most absurd thing
in-the world. F--- seemed half ashamed of himself for his proposal,
but still he urged that he never liked to take a leap in the dark,
backing up his opinion by several world-revered adages. "That's all
very fine," chimed in our precious business adviser," but this
transaction can hardly be said to be in the dark; here are the plans
and the Government lease and the transfer deeds, all regular and
ready." With this he produced the plans, and then it was all up
with us. Who does not know the peculiar _smell_ of tracing-paper,
with its suggestions of ownership? When these fresh and crackling
drawings were opened before us they resembled nothing so much as a
veritable paradise. There shone the lake--a brilliant patch of
cobalt blue, bordered by outlines of vivid green pasture and belts
of timber. Here and there, on the outskirts, we read the words,
"proposed township," "building lots," "probable gold fields," "saw
mills." F--- laid his hand down over a large wash of light green
paint and asked," Now what sort of country is this; really and
truly, you know?" "First class sheep country, I give you my word,"
replied the owner eagerly, "only wants to be stocked for a year or