Naturally Ive hoped that Father would be well
enough . Suddenly he stopped and said, Go andput my saddle on. Hes going to become a
musician, a greatmusician. And now, I reckon,it might be time to be frank with
you.
No reply was possible except to leave the room
pretendingthat he was not sneaking away .
The old mans lips worked and he began to complain
again, No foodfor hours.
And you didnt run awayand you was a ingyneer.
Sambos tongue wassomething he went a long way to pacify.
She was piebald,the cow McFarlane
pinched.
It would bedangerous to disturb him, the doctor
said. Indeed no, James said, but he did not think it was quite thething to
laugh.
She blew a cloud of dust off the stool and sat
down.
That was a long time ago, boss, Sambo said gently.
And now hes cleared them out because theyve stoppedfruiting.
Once you said it was only luck if one didnt do
terrible things. Hiscracked laughter echoed through the empty rooms of the house
whichJames had deserted.
It had overwhelmed him in a second as it did that
night inFrogs Hollow.
She leantagainst the head of the lounge offering
him her cheek. You dont think Imgoing to die, you hussy? One night a frantic banging
on the door roused him. Sambos tongue wassomething he went a long way to pacify.
Theres whiting, grouse, roast lamb, asparagus, ice-cream, and abottle of whatever
you please.
Duty and self-abnegation had been rewarded! But you
smell too, with a smell youll neverwash off.
Thats where all them cockyfarmers are young Jimmy
cut up the land for.
It wasbound to be just like that in the beginning.
James cried, stricken by pity and tenderness atthe sight. All theafternoon the old
man sat in his chair sniffing excitedly andrubbing his hands.
And now, I reckon,it might be time to be frank with
you. James looked pointedly at the nurse before replying. It tookfive Chinamen to
carry him to his room and lock him in.
No reply was possible except to leave the room
pretendingthat he was not sneaking away . He hastened to refute any suggestion
oflese-majesty.
We dont want tohave our noses rubbed in sordid
details. Sambo sat on the veranda steps and grizzled like a child. His pulse is
stronger this morning, the nurse said. Iftheres anything youd like in here as a
keepsake Ill send it toyou. It was her fathers favourite song, a lonely mans song.