and was handing them to Lord Horace in payment for his rations. Lord Horace counted them, carefully, and thrust them into his pocket.
"Have a nip," he said, and took the digger to the kitchen where Lady Horace acted as Hebe, and where his health was drunk, and that of her ladyship, with due formalities. Lord and Lady Horace were popular in the district, and a good many loafers found their way to the Dell. They could always fetch Lord Horace by admiring his amateur bush ways, and he always wound up business by offering them a grog.
"Where are you going?" asked Elsie, of Hallett.
"To the Bean-tree, and perhaps to Goondi, to look after my political interests."
"Isn't it rather odd that Mr. Blake should have got into the field so quickly? He must have heard of Mr. Slaney's death almost as soon as it happened," said Elsie.
"I suppose he has been working up the district for some time on the sly," answered Hallett. "Trant must have set the wires going. That fellow brought me a telegram from the Bean-tree, which had been forwarded by Mrs. Jem, on the chance of its picking me up here. My supporters want to see me."
Elsie noticed that he had pinned into his coat the sprig of stephanotis she had thrown away the night before. "Why do you keep that withered thing?" she said. "If you come round to the verandah, I'll give you a better one."
"Give me the bit you have in your belt," he said. "It will bring me luck."
She took it out with a little hesitation. "You'd much better have a fresh piece," and she moved to the house. He followed her. It was only an excuse for getting out of eye-range. As soon as they were in the front verandah he stopped her as she was going to the stephanotis creeper.
"No, give me that."
"No, I want it for myself."
