""Possum Gully, Australia, 1897." ""Dear Fellow Countrymen," "'Just a few lines to let you know..." ""that this story is going to be all about me." ""So, in answer to many requests," ""here is the story of my career." ""Here is the story..." ""of my career." ""My..." ""brilliant career." ""I... make..." ""no apology..." ""for being..." ""egotistical," ""because I am." "Hmm." ""I have always known..." ""that I belonged..." ""to..." ""the world..." ""of art..." "Sybylla!" "Get up there!" ""and the world..." ""of..." ""literature and music," "Sybylla!" ""and the world..." ""of culture..." ""and elegance." "Sybylla!" "Go on, then." "Take that in the house for Mother." "Go on!" "Get in the house!" "Sybylla!" "Secure the windows!" "Sybylla!" "Get out here!" "I'm coming!" "Sybylla, I want to have a talk with you." "Talk away." "You're a young woman now, and" "I have been thinking about this a great deal." "We can't afford to keep you any longer." "Do you think you could earn your own living?" "Of course." "And how would you do that?" "I'd like to be a pianist." "Oh, Sybylla." "That takes years of practice." "You know we can't afford it." "You've thought of something already, haven't you?" "I've arranged a position for you." "A position?" "As a general servant." "Servant?" "I won't." "We have no choice." "You just want to get rid of me." "I must do what I feel is right!" "Oh, I prayed to God for guidance." "And this is what he told you to do?" "God be damned!" "It's a wonder God didn't strike her dead at my feet." "Same as all your damned family." "Delusions of grandeur." "To have such a daughter- useless, plain and godless." "What can I do?" "I want to do great things, Gertie, not be a servant." "I hate this life." "Should never have left the mountains." "It's not Father's fault." "You can't blame him for the drought." "Gertie, don't you ever dream there's more to life than this?" "Don't you want to meet people who talk about books and words... and have visions?" "Gertie, I can't settle for a new dress, a picnic now and then." "Living out in the bush for the rest of my life, I might just as well be dead." "Don't say things like that." "Well, why doesn't Mother understand?" "Why doesn't anyone?" "I think you're the nicest, cleverest girl in the whole entire world." "I'm not." "I'm mad." "It'd be better if I didn't think at all." "It's no use for me." "I've no training, no money." "I haven't any time to study or practice." "Just two states of existence- work and sleep." "Sybylla!" "Sybylla, why do you never answer when I call?" "I want you to fetch your father." "It's all right." "I'll do it." "Looking for your dad, are ya?" "Just missed him." "Left with the schoolmaster." "Blind leading the blind!" "As usual!" "Come on." "Hup!" "Hup!" "Come on." "I've had a letter from your grandmother." "You'd better read it!" "Says she's sorry to hear you're such a source of grief and annoyance... and thinks you might be in danger of forming ties beneath you here." "Oh, Syb, you're to go to Gran at Caddagat!" "Gertie!" "Good day!" "Good day, Jack!" "How are ya?" "Go on." "Good day, Bill!" "Good day, Jack." "Had a good trip?" "Fine, Bill, just fine." "Not a bad run at all." "I say, driver." "Yes, sir?" "I believe Mrs. Bossier's granddaughter was supposed to have been on the coach." "Oh!" "That's me!" "Thank you, Jack." " Hello." " Miss Melvyn?" "Yes." "Where's Uncle J.J.?" "Um, he's away." "On business." "I'm Frank Hawden." " What are you?" " Ajackaroo." "That's poetry." "Yes." "Thank you." "See you next week, then." "Bye." "Bye-bye, Jack!" "Bye, missy." "Go on." "Bye!" "You're a new chum, aren't you?" "Certainly not." "I've been in the colony well over three months." "Oh." "Still wet behind the ears." "I was surprised back there... at your being Mrs. Bossier's granddaughter." "Really?" "Yes." "I mean, you're not at all like them, Mrs. Bossier or your aunt, Mrs. Bell." "They're so awfully good-looking." "Indeed!" "Yes." "But never mind." "You seem like a good sort." "We'll have some fun." "Well, I'm glad I meet with your approval, Mr. Hawden, in even a small degree." "Caddagat!" "Hello!" "We're here!" "Sybylla!" "Welcome, my dear!" "Welcome!" "Oh, Grandma." "Sybylla." "Oh!" "I remember this!" "Oh!" "For the gracious bounties we are about to receive... may the good Lord make us truly thankful." "Amen." "Amen." "Hmm." "Take some more, dear." "Will this be sufficient for you, Frank?" "Yes, thank you." "Thank you, Mrs. Bossier." "Ah." "Helen, have you seen any patterns in the catalog you like?" "Well, there were two, yes." "Yes, I bought two lovely ones for Sybylla." "That's a good idea." "What color, do you think?" "Oh, sky blue." "Or pretty pink?" "And what would you like, Sybylla?" "Lemon." "Thank you, dear." "But, Helen, you look so beautiful." "Don't you recognize your own mother?" "This was her room when she was young." "We'll see you in the morning." "Sleep well." "Good night." "Ohh." "Now... what's all this about?" "Mother" "Mother." "And I'm so ugly." "Nobody loves me." "Oh, Sybylla." "Stop all this and into bed with you." "Come along." "I don't understand you, Sybylla." "There's" " There's any amount of love and good in the world, you know." "But it doesn't just come to you." "You have to search for it." "Being misunderstood... is a trial we must all bear." "You have a- a wildness of spirit which is going to get you into trouble all your life." "Mm-hmm." "So you must learn to control it." "And try and cultivate a little more feminine vanity." "Oh, I've given up." "Plain looks never stopped anyone from being... intelligent or witty or- or making friends." "Being beautiful is... no guarantee of success in anything." "But it does help a little." "I have a plan." "You'll never make me more than middling ugly." "We'll see." "But first of all, no more looking in mirrors." "And no more thinking about yourself." "Hmm?" "Oh!" "Seventy-eight, seventy-nine, eighty, eighty-one, eighty-two, eighty-three, eighty-four, eighty-five, eighty-six, eighty-seven" ""I had a dove, and the sweet dove died," ""and I could have thought it died of grieving." "Oh, who could it grieve for?"" "Oh!" "Mr. Hawden!" "Frank." "How terribly kind." "Not at all!" "Rain!" "Ohh!" "Now you see the consequences ofwild and extravagant behavior." "You'd have done the same ifyou hadn't seen decent rain for over a year." "Well, a few days in bed will keep you out of mischief." "Harry has brought you some apples all the way from Five Bob Downs." "You remember Harry, dear?" "Oh, Podgy?" "Sybylla!" "Harry and Miss Augusta are the most important people in the district!" "Too good for me then." "I'm only good for the local boy who has pimples and stinks." "I shall make quite sure my granddaughter will never marry a man unworthy of her." "Don't worry." "I don't." "I'm not marrying anyone." "I'm going to have a career." "A career." "What in?" "Mmm, literature, music, art." "Maybe the opera." "I've not made up my mind yet." "I fear, Helen, we underestimated her mother's problem." "I wish Julius were here." "She needs a man's hand." "Ethel." "Yes, ma'am?" "Take this to the kitchen, please." "# Maggie Piggins on the wall Maggie Piggins going to fall #" "# Maggie Piggins very tall #" "# Maggie Piggins dancin' #" "# Maggie Piggins had the coo Brown and white within the brew #" "# Open the gate and let him through #" "# Maggie Piggins in tr- #" "Do you, um, need a hand?" "No, thank you." "You're, uh, new here, aren't you?" "Do you work in the kitchen?" "I'd be obliged to you, sir, ifyou'd take yourself out of the way, unless you want me foot in your big, fat face." "How about, um, a reward?" "Let me go." "You should be ashamed." "A gentleman like yourself... peeping' and pryin' on innocent girls." "You'll have me sacked, you will." "What's your name?" "Wouldn't you like to know!" "Ah." "Hmm." "Ah, it's a picture, you are!" "Can't I look now?" "What do you think, Biddy?" "Well, ma'am, I don't think the glass'll break." "Biddy!" "I hope you can say something to your Uncle Julius." "Uncle J.J.?" "He's not here!" "Mm-hmm." "Oh!" "Thank you, Aunt Helen." "It's beautiful." "Oh, Sybylla!" "There she is!" "Uncle J.J.!" "Here." "By George, you're a good-looking young lady!" "Ah." "You've changed, no doubt about that." "You haven't." "Your kisses still smell ofwhiskey and cigars." "That's what makes 'em irresistible." "Ah, come in, gentlemen!" "Hello, Harry." "Hello, Mrs. Bossier." "I'm delighted you could join us this evening." "Well, for goodness' sake, Frank, get him a drink!" "Sybylla, this is our dear friend, Harry Beecham." "Harry, you remember my granddaughter." "Uh, y-yes, Miss Melvyn." "I... never would have recognized you." "No, nor I, Mr. Beecham." "I believe I have to thank you for the apples you sent to me when I was ill." "And Frank's very good at giving me flowers." "Aren't you, Frank?" "Y" " Yes." "Well, the drought up country's not broken yet, Harry." "Saw a lot of unfortunate fellows on the road heading south." "Yes, we've noticed more calling in here for food recently." "Very bad." "Very bad." "Yes, I was approached by one of them today." "A very ill-mannered sort." "While I was picking blossom." "Goodness, dear!" "He was very forward." "He wanted to kiss me." "You should have called me." "I'd have taken care of him." "I'm sure you would." "But I can look after myself, Frank." "Good girl!" "That's the sort we want." "Eh, Harry?" "Absolutely." "Thank you, Ethel." "I fear Mrs. Hickey's decided that now is an appropriate time to have her baby." "I promised to help." "Excuse me." "Mother, can't I go?" "No, no, dear." "No." "Enjoy yourselves." "Good night." "Good night, Mother." "Good night." "Sybylla." "Thank you." "Are you finished?" "Would you like some more, Helen?" "Yes." "Thanks, Julius." "There you are, Harry." "Help yourself." "# Ta-rah-rah-boom-di-ay Ta-rah-rah-boom-di-ay #" "# Ta-rah-rah-boom-di-ay Ta-rah-rah-boom-di-ay #" "Ah, your turn for a song, Harry." "Ah, um," "I don't know any." "Oh, I can give you a song." "# There were three drunken maidens #" "# Down the Isle ofWight #" "# They drunk from Sunday morning #" "# Nor stopped for Saturday night #" "# Then Saturday night did come around #" "# The girls they wouldn't go home #" "# And those three drunken maidens pushed the jug about #" " Where on earth did you learn that?" " In the pub, of course." "# Then where are all your feathered hats #" "# Your clothes so rich and fine #" "# They've all been swallowed up, boys in tankards of good wine #" "# And where are all your maidenheads #" "# Your maidens rich and fine # Our Sybylla appears to have hidden talents." "The only trouble is, you don't know what she'll do next." "I seem to recall she was always like this." "Ohh!" "Sorry, Frank." "I loved it." "From what I hear, Julius, last night was little short of a bacchanalian debauch." "What?" "Oh, who told you that, Mother?" "Ask Helen." "She has one of her sick headaches." "Ah." "Sybylla." "Good morning, Grandma." "Good morning, Uncle J.J. Morning." " Harry?" " He left early." "I gather your behavior last night, young lady, left a lot to be desired." "I'd have said Harry enjoyed himself." "That's not what I heard." "Excuse me." "Anyway, Syb solved one problem last night." "Indeed." "Her future." "She should be an actress." "Are you suggesting my granddaughter should be an actress?" "She has a talent for it." "I could introduce her" "Go on the stage?" "I'd rather see her with her hair shorn off and shut up in a convent." "Don't ever mention the subject again." "I enjoyed meself last night." "I thought we got on jolly well together." "Didn't you?" "Miss Melvyn" " Ahh!" "Sybylla." "I've been thinking." "While looks aren't everything, and, um" "Would you come to the point, Frank?" "Well, now that this- this fellow Harry has gone, you should pay some heed to my attentions." "Do you mean your attentions or your intentions?" "At the conclusion of the coming year I will be returning to England, and I expect you to return with me as my wife." "Well, what do you say?" "Oh, let me go." "Not until I have your answer." "Well, there is this in your favor- You don't say you're sorry when you are not." "Why should I pretend about a person like Frank Hawden?" "But you are not prepared to apologize?" "What for?" "Your aunt and I thought that you liked him." "Liked him?" "He appears to be extremely fond ofyou." "Now listen to me, Sybylla." "In a few years he'll come into quite a large fortune in England." "He comes of a very good family and will make someone an excellent husband." "Well, it won't be me!" "Oh, do be realistic, child." "Well, I am!" "To begin with, I don't love him." "That is not the point." "Well, it is to me." "Sybylla, do you want to be a burden on your family forever... with no status in decent society or a home ofyour own?" "I will not be married off to someone I detest, by you or anybody!" "At times I fear for you, my girl." "You are rude to your elders and betters and often lack all gentility." "Very well." "Though you may not be prepared to apologize to Frank," "I expect you to apologize to me... when you have regained your... humor... and your manners." "You must learn not to shout at your grandmother, Sybylla." "I didn't mean to." "It just surges up in me when she starts on about marriage." "She just doesn't seem to understand." "Sit down here next to me." "Come on." "Now, believe me, Sybylla, the best kind of marriage... is not love marriage but friendship marriage." "Friendship?" "Yes." "You see, your mother married for love." "And..." "I too... married for love." "My husband isn't dead." "He" " He left me for someone else." "Left me to live the rest of my life with the- the shame of being neither wife nor widow... nor maid." "But why should you be ashamed?" "Marriage gives us respectability, dear, as you'll learn." "No, that is just what men want us to believe." "Stupid idiots like- like Frank Hawden." "Well, I won't be caught up in it, not by him or anyone." "Aunt Helen, please." "Please stop trying to marry me off." "Well, I suppose I should... tear up this invitation, then, from Miss Augusta... for you to stay a few days at Five Bob." "Hmm?" "Shall I?" "No!" "I hear you've made a lot of changes at Five Bob, Mr. Beecham." "Oh, yes, we have." "Must have been hard for you when your father died." "Can I drive?" "Whoa, boy, whoa." "Dear Lucy's daughter." "There's little resemblance." "No." "I'm sorry." "A pity." "Well, come in." "Come along, child." "I'm not going to eat you." "Well, I think I'll turn in." "Early start tomorrow." "Good night, Aunt Gussie." "Good night, dear." "Good night, Miss Melvyn." "Good night, Mr. Beecham." "He always seems so quiet and composed." "You don't have to live with him." "This must be the most beautiful house in the world." "Too big." "Too many corners to dust." "Fancy living in it, do you?" "No." "I'd get lost." "I wouldn't know what to do with all those servants." "I wouldn't even know what groceries to order." "I think another glass of port won't harm us." "Beautiful creatures." "They're fortunate, aren't they?" "Every day they get their food." "As long as I remember." "They never have to look for water in a dried-up creek," "scratch for a living... like all our countrymen." "Forced on the road to beg." "Perhaps they are meant to counterbalance the ugly things of life." "Do you read the Australian poets, Miss Gussie?" "You know, I think ugly girls should be strangled at birth by their parents." "It's bad enough being born a girl, but being born ugly and clever" "Oh." "Clever, are you?" "Well, I hope so." "I'm done for if I'm not." "Has to be something I'm good at." "There's sure to be." "Cool breezes ripples at the river below... as fleecy clouds float high... and I mark how the dark green gum trees match... the bright blue vault of the sky." "We wouldn't be out of place on the Thames in England." "I haven't done this for years." "Oh!" "Sybylla!" "Race you home!" "You didn't stay long at the river." "You washed your hair." "That will never dry by dinner." "Perhaps I should cut it all off." "Well, no, dear." "It'd be a pity to lose your finest asset." "My only asset, more like." "Oh, I wouldn't go quite as far as that." "Hmm." "It must be contagious." "What's that?" "Washing one's hair." "Or did you, by chance, have an accident at the river?" "No, no." "I don't wish to hear the details." "Well, as you both seem able to entertain yourselves," "I'll see to dinner." "I was worried when I couldn't see you when I came to the surface." "I thought you might have drowned." "What a terrible loss to the world." "Yes, it would have been." "Good night, Miss Melvyn." "Good night, Mr. Beecham." "Yaah!" "Ohh!" "Thank you." "Coffee?" "Well?" "She was a precocious child." "There's an improvement, but not much." "Still skinny." "She's very young, Harry, and spirited." "Take care." "Don't rush anything." "Very good." "Peddle a little faster." "Yes, a little faster." "Very good." "How long will you be away?" "Oh, quite a few weeks." "I've got to go to the Queensland property first..." "Oh, God." "and then to the shearing at the Riverina." "Wait a minute." "I'll come over and see you as soon as I get back." "There." "There we are." "Well, safe home." "Thank you, Gussie." "Bye-bye, J.J. Bye, Harry." "Good-bye, J.J. Good-bye, my dear." "You be careful with that bicycle, do you hear?" "I will." "Bye-bye!" "Bye-bye." "# Last night as I lay sleeping #" "# There came a dream so fair #" "# I stood in old Jerusalem #" "# Beside the temple there #" "# I heard the children singing #" "# And ever as they sang #" "# Me thought the voice of angels #" "# From heaven in answer rang #" "# Me thought the voice of angels #" "# From heaven in answer rang #" "#Jerusalem #" "# Lift up your voice and sing #" "# Hosanna #" "# In the highest #" "# Hosanna to your king #" "It must have been pretty quiet for you at Five Bob." "Oh, I survived." "Mmm." "Such a heavenly scent." "Really, Sybylla, must you play those vulgar songs?" "There are so many nice ones, aren't there?" "Here you are." "That should keep you going for a while." "Thank you." "Good-bye." "Good luck." "You too." "We'll have to watch her, Helen." "She'll give away half of Caddagat to those fellows." "Can't something be done for them?" "You see?" "She'd carve up the place among them and send me on the wallaby." "Frank." "And make sure Butler gives you the right gauge ofwire this time." "Hmm?" "Of course, Mr. Bossier." "Hmm." "There's our acceptance for the ball, and make sure you give it to Harry." "Harry." "Harry Beecham?" "He's back?" "Oh, yes." "Has been for a couple ofweeks." "That's all the mail, unless you have anything to add." "Um, can I take it?" "Well, I don't suppose Frank would mind a passenger." " Oh, I'd like to go by myself." " Not on your life, Syb." "Not with those horses." "Strange that Harry's not been over." "Can't have much time for you." "Excuse me." "Don't go through the gate." "Hmm." "Oh." "Whoa!" "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." "You'll soon realize you can't do better than me." "I'd love to see the looks at home." "You'd certainly surprise those English girls, you know." "Yes, sir." "Oh, damn." "Hey." "Hey, wait." "Wait!" "Damn it!" "Wait, damn you!" "Stop!" "How have you been?" "I'm well." "As I was two weeks ago." "Pleased to hear that." "You promised to come to Caddagat as soon as you got back." "I've been busy." "You promised." "We haven't got that muslin Mrs. Bossier wanted." "It'll be here next week." "Thanks, Mrs. Butler." "I'll tell her." "You're just the same as all men." "And you're different from other girls?" "I've heard how you've been behaving, flirting with every man within miles." "Who told you that?" "Who?" "Frank Hawden?" "There." "That's everything, Miss Melvyn." "And you believed him." "See you next time." "Thank you, Mrs. Butler." "I'm sorry." "So you should be." "I" " I thought we were mates." "Aren't we?" "I'll see you at the ball." "Ahh!" "And do you mean to say that Frank had to walk four miles back here?" "In his tight boots?" "It's no joking matter, Julius." "No, no, Mother." "No, no, no." "Serves him right though." "That girl must learn to behave." "I've sent her to her room." "Did, uh" "Did you see Harry at Dogtrap?" "Yes." "Oh." "You know, I" "I think you might be in love with Harry Beecham." "We're friends, that's all." "Nothing else." "Be careful how you treat him." "What do you mean?" "Well, you know what they say:" "Heed the spark or you may dread the fire." " For heaven's sake." " Well, Sybylla, he is a man ofthe world." "He has quite a reputation with the ladies in Melbourne." "Yes, I'll bet he has." "And it's always been taken for granted... that he'd marry into one ofthe best families." "Well, Aunt Gussie will make sure of that." "Look, Aunt Helen, you don't have to worry." "I know he can marry anyone." "I know." "And I know he wouldn't want to marry me." "Even if I wanted to get married, which I don't, he'd never ask me in a million years." "So" " So long as you know." "In the box, there's a surprise for you- a lovely new dress for the ball." "Excuse me, ma'am." "Dinner is served." "Would you come in to dinner, everyone?" "Ah, Gussie." "Allow me, huh?" "Thank you." "What a charming evening it's turned out to be." "At that time it was in a terrible state." "Really shocking." "Anyway, I remember" "There were people." "They were soldiers." "They actually" " Thank you." "Oh, you're welcome." "All right." "I see that Furlow has bought himself a very fine bull." "That should make a few cows happy." "Rutherford." "The Duke of Rutherford, of course." "Really?" "Almost family." "Go in, girls, and dance with the grown-ups." "That was delightful." "Thank you." "I'm afraid she's a bit of a handful." "I do hope she behaved herself while she was with you." "Why not?" "Charming girl." "How you doin', miss?" "You havin' a good time?" "Will you dance?" "Sure enough." "They're so stuffy in there, Joe." "They've forgotten how to enjoy themselves." "# I looked upon the nobles with their lineages old #" " It's so much better to be here." " # I looked upon their mansions and their acres and their gold #" "# I saw their women radiant in jewelled robes appear #" "# And then I joined the army of the outcasts in the rear #" "# Tramp, tramp #" "Harry, let me go." "Didn't you like me dancing with the peasants?" "I'm not going to make a big thing ofthis." "I disgraced you, didn't I?" "I have to go away for a few days." "Oh, more shearing somewhere else?" "And I must be told- is it yes or no?" " What's the question?" " Bloody woman." "I thought" "I thought we should get married." "Well, what a handsome proposal." "How could anyone say no?" "How dare you." "Harry, I" " I'm sorry." "It was my fault." "It was stupid of me." "I should really get back to my guests." "Oh!" "The boy's an idiot, but you did lead him on." "I didn't mean to." "I'm a misfit, a larrikin." "My nose is the wrong shape." "True." "Then why me?" "Because he loves you, and I think you love him." "And you make all the other misses who've been through here... look like so many pale insipid nobodies, which they undoubtedly are." "But why does it always have to come down to marriage?" "Don't be foolish, child." "It's natural to want someone as part ofyou, part ofyour life." "I don't want to be part of anyone." "Do you imagine you're the only female on Earth to have such notions?" "Loneliness is a terrible price to pay for independence." "Sybylla, don't throw away reality for some impossible dream." "It's not impossible." "It's not." "Good-bye!" "Hello, Podgy." "Hello, silly Syb." "I've got to leave all this, Syb." "We're closing the house." "I'm going north to see to the other properties." "Why?" "What's happened?" "The bank wants its money, and I haven't got it." "They couldn't take everything." "They could." "How long have you known?" "Quite a while." "Why didn't you tell me?" "I'm sorry." "I should've." "I was afraid of losing you as well." "Oh, Harry." "I am sorry." "Now you know." "There's no need to feel tied." "I mean, I shouldn't have asked you." "I" " I had no right." "I'll be a poor man." "But we'll be friends..." "and mates." "Won't we?" "Of course." "Do you think I cared for you just because you were rich?" "No, Harry." "There's something I must say." "Um," "I" " I wish I could help you." "Could you" "Can you give me a bit oftime?" "Maybe two years." "You see, I'm just not ready yet." "Last night" "I don't know." "I think I was trying to hurt you, make you let go, do something." "Give me a chance to find out what's wrong with the world and with me, who I am, everything." "Then I'll marry you, if you need me and I can help." "You do understand, don't you?" "Of course I do." "I knew you would." "I don't know what you've been up to now, but Mrs. Bossier wants to see you." "Oh, Biddy, I've just got to finish this page- She wants you now." "They're all waiting- Mr. Julius and Mrs. Bell." "Hurry." "Damn, damn, damn." "Come in, dear, and sit down." "I'll come straight to the point, Sybylla." "It seems your father has got himself into difficulties again." "Money, of course." "He borrowed L500 from a chap called McSwat... and put the farm up as security at four percent interest." "That's L20 a year." "Very fair." " What's this got to do with me?" " Well, your mother says she's tried, but there is no way they can pay it." "And this McSwat chap's made a very generous offer." "He'd be worth a few bob, I'd say." "Julius." "So it's been arranged that instead of the interest, he will accept your services as governess to his children." "Arranged?" "Don't I have a say?" "I won't go." "I won't." "Huh." "Life around here will certainly be uneventful when she's gone." "Do her the world of good." "Make her think of other people... instead of herself." "Uh, this is my name" " Miss Melvyn." "Old boozy Melvyn's daughter." "I'll have no more impertinence, thank you." "Now, sit up straight and attend." "James, fetch the textbooks, please." "Ain't got none." "Rats got 'em." "Pa says you can teach out ofyour head." "Miss Killen couldn't." "She was as mad as a tree full of galahs." "And the one before her only stayed a week... and ran off in the bush, and we never saw her again." "And the one before her." "Possum!" "Possum!" "Get down!" "Possum!" "Come back!" "Come back!" "Lizer, Sarah, come on." "Here you go." "Good girl." "Come on." "Tea's ready!" "Watch it!" "Save some for me, Jimmy." "Give me a bowl." "Here you go." "I don't want any." "Mom!" "Jimmy, I've told you before." "Would you use a fork to put the food into your mouth." " Didn't give me one." " Well, use your fingers." "Don't use your knife." "Why not?" "Pa does." " I'm a richer man today than them that don't." " You're right there, Pa." "Yeah, you're right, Pa." " Well, your pa doesn't talk with his mouth full." " Ma does." "You're gonna have your work cut out with this lot." "Oh." "I see you've received another one ofthese too." "Really, how can she expect us to believe all this nonsense?" "I won!" "I won!" "Of course you won." "I didn't stand a chance." "Oh, yes, you did." "I did not." "You did." "I did not." "Ah." "Ah, Gertie, Frank." "Just in time for tea." "Did you have a good game?" "Yes." "Hmm." "And who won?" "I did." "Oh." "I think Frank is being rather gallant." "Ooh." "Sandwiches." "Today I want to show you another very important letter- the letter "H."" ""H" follows the letter we learned yesterday- "G."" ""A "- Sybylla, we cannot interfere with your mother's wishes." "The time will soon pass." "You would hardly recognize your little sister." "She has blossomed into quite a young lady." "Try and do good where you are, dear." "We can't always get what we would like in this world." "As in "hot."" ""H."" "Good shot, Jimmy." "Ma!" "Ma!" "Ma!" "Hurry, Ma!" "Quick!" "Hurry, Ma!" "Ma!" "Mom!" "Mom, get her off me!" "Ma!" "Ma!" "# The day #" "# Lulled by the moonlight #" "# Have all passed away #" "# Beautiful dreamer #" ""When stooping o'er a thirsty rose, she murmured, 'Frederick, fetch my hose."'" "Page 25." "Twenty-four." "Up here." ""The devil is dead." "There is no hell." "The devil is dead, and all is well." Hmm." ""And I," ""the one that have loved him the best," ""have grown..." ""to be past caring." ""I've grown..." ""to be past caring," ""past..." ""waiting... and past wearing."" "I suppose I should thank God for one agreeable daughter." "If Gertie marries Harry Beecham, it will be a blessing." "Your grandmother says he's come back and has managed to regain possession of Five Bob Downs." "He seems to spend most of his time with Gertie, who must enjoy his company." "Who's that?" "It's me." "You gave me a start." "What are you doing out here?" "Just thinking, really." "Been over to see Susie again?" "Yeah." "Third time this week." "We wanna have a serious talk with you, lovey." "Now" "Well, you see, we want you to know that we like you... and that you're being a good girl." "It'd be different ifyou had some property." "You see, our Peter, he's almost as sure as made it with Susie Duffy." "What are you talking about?" "Oh, we've seen you..." "going out at night." "We can't say we blame you." "He's a good-lookin' lad." "But you don't have any property, you see, like I said." "You don't think that- You can't." "Oh, no." "There, there, lovey." "I told you it'd be too much of a shock for her." "Come on." "No one ever really died of a broken heart." "You see, girl, things being as they are, we gotta send you home." "I've wrote a bit of a letter for you." "Just to tell your ma." "And they don't have to worry about the money, not until things look up." "Come on." "Don't take it so hard." "There's plenty of other nice fellas in the world." "Oh!" "Stanley." "Could you see to Maisie when you've finished separating the milk?" "Come on." "Oh!" "Oh, dear." "Come on." "Let's see how that cake's doing." "Will you bring that in, Aurora?" "There now." "Hey, you poor, wee thing." "You poor, wee thing." "We'll get you out." "Come on." "Oh, lift up those legs." "Now, come on." "Out you go." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on." "That's the way." "Do you need a hand?" "Peeping and prying again, are you?" "That's the boy." "Back to your mother." "Come on." "It's good to see you again, Syb." "We heard from Grandmother that you might be coming down." "I must look a sight." "I'm glad you saved Five Bob." "Oh, I was lucky, that's all." "Did" " Did you find the answers to all those questions?" "I mean, what was wrong with the world- Oh, yes." "Partly me." "Oh." "Well, here I am." "Yes." "I don't suppose you thought it would be like this." "Aunt Gussie sends her love." "She's very keen on me getting married." "Yes, I think it's a good idea too." "Oh, Syb, do you?" "Yes." "Gertie's just right for you." "She's everything I'm not." "Look, I've got to change." "Father's down in the paddock." "Syb!" "It's not Gertie I" "It's you." "It's you I want to marry." "Please, please understand." "You promised if I needed you" "I do, Syb." "I love you." "I want to marry you." "Trust me, Syb." "It's me I don't trust." "Can't you see?" "The last thing I want is- is to be a wife out in the bush, having a baby every year." "You can have anything you want." "We can go to the city as much as you like." "Dear, dear Harry." "Maybe I'm ambitious, selfish." "But I can't lose myself in somebody else's life... when I haven't lived my own yet." "I want to be a writer." "At least I'm going to try." "But I've got to do it now." "And I've got to do it alone." "Please try and understand." "I thought you loved me." "Harry." "Don't you love me even a little?" "Oh, Harry." "I'm so near loving you." "But I'd destroy you." "And I can't do that." ""So now I've written it all down." ""Why?" "To try and make sense of it?" ""It may come out sounding like a couple of nails..." ""in a rusty tin pot." ""My ineffectual life may be trod in the same round oftoil." ""But I want to tell everyone about my own people," ""how I love them and pity them," ""pity all of us." ""The sun is shining on another day," ""and hope is whispering in my ear." ""With love and good wishes to all," ""good night." ""Good-bye." "Amen.""