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Tue 5 Jan 1937 - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)
Page 5 - BROAD ACRES. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.) CHAPTER XXX.—Continued.
BROAD AGRES.
BY W. M. FLEMING.
,(AZiIi RIGHTS RESERVED.) .
CHAPTER XXX.-Continued.
Tolling the men to bo seated, Mrs. ]
mond left thc room and soon returned,
lng n. tray with tea and scones.
"You see, Mr. Watts, we do much (
own work here," she remarked, slightly
'rlnir her "r's," but with nothing of ai
' in her voice.
"It is well io be. able to do that ii
country," said Watts.
"A country where no formalities Ere al
to stand in the way of doing those í
which it appears at the moment shou
done," remarked Drummond.
"Does it apply to necessary things o
asked Mrs. Drummond.
"I'm inclined to think they go a little
ther than that," said Drummond. "At
there ls an inclination to act os thoug
tradition is foolish and not worth consii
tlon. Isn't that so, Mr. Watts?"
"I would not say that," replied V,
"There is a degree of disregard, in somi
spects a healthy disregard, for what migl
called the hampering effect of formality
tradition. At times it is possibly carried
far-as one would expect in a virile yi
country."
"I iee you have adopted the country,
Watts," said Mrs. Drummond. "You I
iiavn found your pupils satisfactory."
"I did, Mrs. Drummond."
"Tell us something about them,". urged
lady. "Naturally we are interested in
neignbnun, Ihe people we have come nmont
"Our neighbours? The people we have c
Rinongsl?" said Watts to'himself. "I wot
which it will be."
He was considering how best to reply, w
Mrs. Drummond continued. "I should Uki
know how many children there-are in e
family and their ages. . ' Our own girl
have only the one child-ls now seventeen.
Wt her at home. But a friend is coming
Australia, and wo took the opportunity
Jean coming, too. She is on her way c
, She should be with us in less than two mon
-less Ulan two mouths."
1 Watts went over thc names of his ion
pupils with a running commentary on th
as he went. When ho spoke1 of the Loi
shafts his hostess seemed to be partícula
interested. "Yes," she said, "we have an it
(that we may know the Loneshnfts."
Watts wondered if it was possible tr.
should know the Loneshafts, who had alw£
moved In most exclusive circles.
"And tell me," said Mrs. Drummond soft
"what sort of folk are the Colberts? A ht
(rough?" . .
. "On tho contrary," replied Watts, "I h
i lleve they come of a most cultured fami
?I should say families, for lt ls on both sides
Mrs. Drummond looked surprised.' "V
(heard they are of the pioneer class," she e:
plained.
"Pioneer class," said Watts. "Ccrtainl
That is li there is a pioneer class. Pionec
'can hardly be called a class.- 'They do ni
j necessarily come of rough families. Some (
Ithem belong to tho veiy best families." ,
I "Families who wish to be rid of themî
Biked Drummond.
I "In some cases, yes. In others, no," replie
Watts. "In some cases they are the best ma
of tho family."
Mrs. Drummond raised her eyebrows ever s
slightly. "You surprise me, Mr. Watts. Evl
dently we have been misinformed. Wheri
i does one get reliable information about th
colony and its people?"
"The story ol Australia has yet to be writ
ton, The truth about Australia has yet tc
,be told," answered the little tutor. "Ont
reads that the birds are songlcss, the,flowers
without perfume. Do you believe either ol
.those statements after having been here even
for as short a time as you have?"
Mrs. Drummond smiled. "I am glad to
hear you speak so," she said. "But what a
'pity one is told such misleading things about
tho place and its people."
"I am sure you will like both," said Watts.
'We hope to," was the pleasant reply. "We
look forward to it with interest."
When Watts, took hts Içave, passing out
through the flower beds in the making, he was
nure he liked the Drummonds. He believed
that all other discriminating people must do
the same. But he knew they would have
much to overcome. They had made an enemy I
of tlie hardest and most implacable man in
the district, and they were selectors. What-
ever they had been in Scotland, in Australia
Uley, were selectors. I