"Oh, dear no! I have lived here ever since I was two years old."
"Heah! in Townsville?"
"I meant Australia," Sheila observed placidly.
"Then you are not an Australian born, Miss Carolan?" put in Mrs. Wooler with a peculiarly irritating condescension of manner and surprised tone, as if she meant to say, "I am sure you are--you certainly are not lady-like enough to be an English girl."
"No, I am not," was the reply. "Do you think you will like Queensland, Mr. a.s.sheton?"
"I really have as yet formed no definite impression. Possibly I may in the end contrive to like it."
"Do. It would be a great pity for the country if you did not," said Sheila gravely, without moving an eyelid.
"Do you purpose making a long stay in Queensland, Miss Carolan?" pursued Mrs. Wooler.
"A very long one, perhaps--perhaps on the other hand a very short one.
Or it may be that I may adopt a middle course, and do neither."
Grainger, who was opposite, heard her, and as she looked across at him, he saw that she was "playing" her questioner and quite enjoying it.
Never for one moment did the clergyman"s wife dream that Sheila meant to be anything else but evasive, so she followed up. To her mind it was absolutely incredible that any woman would dare to snub her--Mrs.
Wooler--daughter of a dean, and possessing an uncle who had on several occasions been spoken of by the Bishop of Dullington as his probable successor; such a thing was impossible!
"I presume, however, that your stay in Townsville itself will be short, Miss Carolan? You will find it a very expensive place--especially if you have no friends to whom you can go."
Sheila"s face flushed. Her blood was getting up, and Myra looked at her nervously.
"Is there no "Girls" Friendly Society," "Young Women"s Christian a.s.sociation," or other kindred inst.i.tution, where I could "be taken in and done for"?" she asked sweetly.
"Not as yet; but I am thinking of taking steps to found a Girls"
Friendly Society. Such an inst.i.tution will soon be a necessity in a growing place like this."
"How nice it would be for me to go there instead of staying at--at a boarding house!"
Juliette Trappeme"s sallow face flushed with rage, and Mrs. Trappeme, who saw that something was occurring, spoke loudly to Mr. Wooler, who answered in his usual soft voice. But Mallard, who was seated next to Miss Lilla Trappeme, shot Sheila an encouraging glance.
"Quite so," went on Mrs. Wooler. "I disapprove most strongly of any young woman incurring risks that can be avoided."
"What risks?" and Sheila turned and looked steadily at Mrs. Wooler.
The sharp query somewhat upset the inquisitive lady, who hardly knew what she meant herself.
"Oh, the risks of getting into debt--living beyond one"s means--and things like that."
"Oh, I see, madam," and Sheila bowed gravely, although the danger signals were showing now on her cheeks. Then she added very clearly and distinctly, "That would be most dreadful to happen to any one, would it not, Mr. a.s.sheton?"
"Oh, howwible--for a lady."
"But," she went on--and as she spoke she gazed so intently into Mrs.
Wooler"s face that every one at the table saw her change colour--"but I am sure, Mrs. Wooler, that no girl could possibly come to such a sad condition while _you_ are in Townsville, to give her the benefit of _your_ years, _your_ advice, and _your_ experience--even though that advice was thrust upon her in a manner that I believe might possibly cause well-deserved resentment," and then, with a scornful smile still on her lips, she turned to Mr. a.s.sheton and asked him sweetly if he did not "think it was beginning to be very warm so early in the year?"
"By heavens!" mattered Mallard to Myra, "she has done the parson woman good. Look at her face. It"s unpleasant to look at."
Mrs. Wooler"s features were a study. Unable to speak, and her hands trembling with rage, she gave the girl one glance of hatred, and then tried to eat; and Viveash, who had the sense to do so, at once began telling her some idiotic and pointless story about himself when he sang in a cathedral choir until his voice "failed him."
Just then a long ring was heard at the front door, and the butler presently came to Mallard, and said--
"One of the reporters, sir, from the _Champion_ wishes to see you. Most important, sir, he says. Will you please see him at once?"
Making his excuses, Mallard left the dining-room and went into one of the sitting-rooms, where the reporter was awaiting him.
CHAPTER X ~ THE "CHAMPION" ISSUES A "SPECIAL"
Ten minutes later Mallard was at the hall door giving instructions to the reporter.
"Hurry back as fast as you can, Winthrop, and tell Mr. Flynn to rash the special through. And as fast as any farther news come in rap out another. Get all the boys you can, and distribute the specials everywhere--anywhere. Chuck some over into the cemetery--they"ll make the dead "get up and holler." Tell the boys that they are not to make any charge--get the foreman to head it "Special! Gratis! (Any one newsboy who makes a charge for this special will be immediately dismissed.)" See? And tell the boys they will get five shillings each extra in the morning. I"ll be down in another twenty minates or so. Go on, Winthrop, loop!"
Mr. Winthrop, who was as excited as Mallard himself, "looped," and the editor returned to the dining-room with a galley-proof slip in his hand.
Every one, of coa.r.s.e, saw by his face that something had occurred.
"I won"t sit down again, Mrs. Trappeme, if you and the other ladies will excuse me, for I have to hurry back to the office to attend to some important business. There is great news." Then, bending down, he placed his hand on Grainger"s shoulder, and whispered, "You must come with me, old man. There is glorious news from c.h.i.n.kie"s. I"ll tell you all about it in a minute, as soon as we are outside. Make your apologies and let us go," and then going over to Mrs. Trappeme, he handed her the proof to read to her guests and hurried out with Grainger, leaving every one in the room eager to learn what had occurred.
"Oh, dear me!" began Mrs. Lee-Trappeme, adjusting her pince-nez, which always interfered with her sight.
"SPECIAL. "TOWNSVILLE CHAMPION."
"WRECK.
"9 P.M., May 2nd. "Authentic news has just reached the _Champion_ office that the mail steamer _Flintshire_ was wrecked on the Great Barrier Beef three days ago (the 5th).
All the crew and pa.s.sengers--200 in number-were saved, and are now on their way to Townsville. [Further particulars later.]"
"DREADFUL Ma.s.sACRE BY THE NOTORIOUS BLACK OUTLAWS.
"The Clonourry mail, which has been delayed by floods, brings news of a terrible ma.s.sacre perpetrated by the ootlaw black ex-troopers Sandy and Daylight. A party of five miners who were camped at a lagoon near Dry Creek were surprised and murdered in their sleep by the two outlaws and a number of myall blacks. The bodies were found by the mail man.
Inspector Lamington and a patrol of Native Polioe leave to- morrow to punish the murderers. Detailed particulars of the affair will be given in to-morrow"s issue--Mudoch, the mail man, being too exhausted to stand the test of a long interview to-night."
"WONDERFUL GOLD DISCOVERY NEAR c.h.i.n.kIN"S FLAT.
"A NEW EL DORADO. "MR. GRAINGER AND HIS PARTNERS THE LUCKY MEN.
"By the Clonourry mail, which brought intelligence of the tragedy at Dry Creek, also comes most pleasurably exciting news. The "Ever Victorious Grainger," as his many friends often designate him, some months ago sent out a prospecting party to try the country near the headwaters of Banshee Greek, with the result that probably the richest alluvial field in Australia has been discovered. Over 2,000 os. of gold--princ.i.p.ally in nuggets ranging from 100 oz. to 2 oz.-- have already been taken by Mr. Grainger"s party. Warden Charteris, accompanied by an escort of white and black polioe, leaves for the place to-morrow night. The news of this wonderfully rich field has been two weeks reaching Townsville owing to the flooded condition of the country between Banshee Creek and c.h.i.n.kie"s Flat.