Little room hed have for sneering at her and
throwingthe past in her face.
For a momenther earlier suspicion that he was in
league with McGovern returned. He waved his hand in her face and went back to his
seat at thewindow.
Cabellll have to pay handsome if he wants to keep
thatglib shut. Hesaw his chances of clearing a hundred thousand at the end of
twoyears slipping away.
At last, unwillingly, she had to accept the
invitation he keptthrowing out. Because were just the scum of theearth in his eyes.
He knowswhats coming to him if he makes a false step. You sent himhere with a yarn
to get you back.
Little room hed have for sneering at her and
throwingthe past in her face.
So gradually it began todawn on her that Cabell was
by no means as self-assured as heseemed.
Also, the marriage reacted on her ownaffairs. The
old fool told me because hethought it would make me soft to see you begging. Youtold
me youd stick a knife in him some day, and I think you willif you get a chance. The
papers in Sydney wereharping on the dough Cabell had socked away.
Might there not be agraver danger than she had so
far suspected?
Might there not be agraver danger than she had so
far suspected? It was necessary to her character, aruling instinct. Ballarat had
been full of Vandemonianswho had escaped from tother side.
Youre deep, Em, he said approvingly, but
yourebarking up the wrong tree this time.
She paused and narrowly searched his face. The
flock musthave been sorted since I saw it.
A year before he had got twenty shillings a
headeasily. And once he wasout, let him try to desert her! The old fool told me
because hethought it would make me soft to see you begging.
The deal relievedthe pressure at the Reach, but he
felt very bitterly about her. You might get a leg-rope thatdhold Cabell for good and
all.
He saddled up and went with her to see thesheep
counted out.
Cabell must be made to stay and face it out. They
always need wigging whentheyve been long on dry feed. What was left to himnow, even
with wealth, except old age? She began tofeel a tolerant contempt for one less
strong and cunning thanherself.
These are not the sheep I bought, Ludmilla
said.
He reckoned he would clear hishundred thousand if
things went well.
Might there not be agraver danger than she had so
far suspected?