Of course it did not work out that way at
all.
You wouldnt ask that if itd been you instead of
methey boned that night. And mightnt he guess that when he tried to explain whyher
father had turned on him suddenly.
Doubt prickedthe hopes which had run away with her
and down came all hersophistical arguments. Larry listened to thearguments but said
nothing. She was over seventy now and the weight of all those years seemedto have
fallen upon her suddenly.
It was your own bloody fault, Larry kept shouting.
Anythingwould be better than sitting here year after year hating him andwaiting for
him to die.
A regiment of artillery was coming up from
Brisbane, theysaid, to blow them out of the camp. Thats why they kicked my old man
and your ma out,because they didnt have the blood of lickspittles. I wasso ashamed
of myself I could hardly hold my head up. Then she turned back and threw her
armsaround her mother and clung to her, peering into her eyes.
Cabell sprang from his chair and tried to put his
hand over Larrysmouth.
You aint heard about your sister and
Cash?
Yes, Emma said sadly, its a terrible thing to be
ashamed, asyou said. She waswhispering to herself, frowning, waving her
hands.
He stayed at the farm for the night and had fierce
arguments withBerry. Youre frightened of the ladies in Brisbane. He could hear his
father walking on the veranda. CHAPTER ONE: BAD CONSCIENCEAbout this time it was
that Jean Berry chased Larry up into theloft.