Part 27 (1/2)
”He's hopeful,” Hardress said, laughing. ”Particularly as we never started the car at all--he made me learn everything I could about it first. And did he tell you I rode Brecon?”
”No! How did you get on?” asked Norah delightedly.
”Well, I literally got on very badly--at first. The shop leg didn't seem to understand what was wanted of it at all, and any steed but Brecon would have strongly resented me. But he stood in a pensive att.i.tude while I tried all sorts of experiments. In fact, I think he went to sleep!”
”I told you you could rely on Brecon,” Norah smiled. ”What happened then?”
”Oh--I got used to myself, and found out the knack of getting on.
It's not hard, with a steady horse, once you find out how. But I think Brecon will do me very well for awhile.”
”Oh, we'll soon get you on to Brunette,” Norah said. ”You'd enjoy her.”
”Is that the black pony?”
”Yes--and she's a lovely hack. I'm going to hunt her in the winter: she jumps like a deer.”
”She looked a beauty, in the stable,” Hardress said. ”She ought to make a good polo-pony.” He sighed. ”I wonder if I'll really ever play polo again.”
”Of course you will,” Norah told him. ”This morning you didn't think you would ever get on a horse again.”
”No, I certainly didn't. You have put an extraordinary amount of hope into me: I feel a different being.” He stopped, and a smile crept into his eyes. ”Listen--aren't your friends having a time!”
”Life must be so exciting on your great cattle ranches,” Mrs. West was saying. ”And the dear little woolly lambs on the farms--such pets!”
”We understood you people over here prefer them frozen,” Blake said gently. ”So we send 'em that way.”
Norah choked over her tea. She became aware that Colonel West was speaking to her, and tried to command her wits--hearing, as she turned, Mrs. West's shrill pipe--”And what _is_ a wheat-belt? Is it something you wear?” Norah would have given much to hear Blake's reply.
”Delightful place you have here!” barked the Colonel. ”Your father and I have been spending an agricultural afternoon; planning all the things he means to do on that farm--Hawkins', isn't it? But I suppose you don't take much interest in that sort of thing? Dances and frocks more in your line--and chocolates, eh, what?”
”Then you've changed her in England,” said Harry Trevor suddenly. ”Is it dances now, Norah? No more quick things over the gra.s.s after a cross-grained bullock? Don't say you've forgotten how to use a stockwhip!”
”It's hung up at Billabong,” Norah said laughing. ”But you wait until I get back to it, that's all!”
”Dear me!” said Mrs. West. ”And you do these wonderful things too! I always longed to do them as a girl--to ride over long leagues of plain on a fiery mustang, among your lovely eucalyptus trees. And do you really go out with the cowboys, and use a la.s.so?”
”She does,” said Harry, happily.
”Your wild animals, too,” said Mrs. West. ”It's kangaroos you ride down with spears, is it not? And wallabies. We live in dear, quiet little England, but we read all about your wonderful life, and are oh!
so interested.”
”What a life!” said d.i.c.k Harrison, under his breath.
”Quite. You know, I had a great friend who went out as A.D.C. to one of your Governors. He had to return after a month, because his father died and he came into the baronetcy, but some day he means to write a book on Australia. That is why I have always, as it were, kept in touch with your great country. I seem to know it so well, though I have never seen it.”
”You do, indeed,” said Blake gravely. ”I wish we knew half as much about yours.”
”Ah, but you must let us show it to you. Is it not yours, too?
Outposts of Empire: that is what I call you: outposts of Empire. Is it not that that brought you to fight under our flag?”