Ernest William Hornung

“ To strangers, however, who were glad to get up a conversation with one of the prettiest women they had ever met in their lives, this seemed the likeliest topic in the world; they could not know that Australia was dangerous ground. The first of them who ventured upon it did not soon forget the experience; it was probably always a more amusing reminiscence to him than to Gladys's new relatives, who heard all that passed, and grinned and bore it.
The stranger in question was by way of being illustrious. He was a Midland magnate, and his name, Travers, was a good one ”

“ I always thought Australia was such a superlatively free country!'
The Bride scented a sarcasm.
'So it is,' she cried warmly, beginning to speak at a perilous pace, and with her worst twang; 'my word it is! But you don't understand me. It's like this: we do drive 'em to the poll, up the Bush; I've driven 'em lots o' times myself. They're camped out—the voters, like—all over the runs, for all the hands have a vote; and to get 'em to the police-barracks (the poll, d'ye see?) on election day, each squatter's got to muster his own men and drive 'em in. ”

“ It was a startling reply. The Judge quietly quitted the room. Alfred, with his back to every one, surveyed his red face in the mantel-mirror, and ground his teeth; only Lady Bligh sat stoically still. ”