Ernest William Hornung

“ He was our Australian poet, and you never had one to beat him. Father says so. Father says he is as good as Shakespeare.'
Alfred made no contradiction, for a simple reason: he had not listened to her last sentences; he was thinking how well she hit off the Bush, and how nicely she quoted poetry. He was silent for some minutes. Then he said earnestly:—
'I wish, my darling, that you would sometimes talk to my mother like that!'
Gladys returned from the antipodes in a flash. 'I shall never talk to any of your people any more about Australia!' And, by her tone, she meant it. ”

“ She was sufficiently calm now. 'I see what you mean, and I shall certainly say no more about Australia. "I like a man that is well-bred!" Do you remember how Daft Larry used to wag his head and say that whenever he saw you? "You're not one of the low sort," he used to go on; and how we did laugh! But I've been thinking, Alfred, that he couldn't have said the same about me, if I'd been a man. And—and that's at the bottom of it all!' She smiled, but her smile was sad.
'You are offended, Gladys?'
'Not a bit. ”

“ The first person they saw, on getting home, was Granville, who was lounging in the little veranda where they had taken tea on the afternoon of their arrival, smoking cigarettes over a book. It was the first volume of a novel, which he was scanning for review. He seemed disposed to be agreeable.
'Gladys,' he said, 'this book's about Australia; what's a "new chum," please? I may as well know, as, so far, the hero's one.'
'A "new chum,"' his sister-in-law answered him readily, 'is some fellow newly out from home, who goes up the Bush; and he's generally a fool.'
'Thank you,' said Granville ”

“ Then, indeed, they chatted cheerfully together for the first time during the walk, and he was partly with her in her abuse of the narrow streets and pavements of Richmond, but still stuck up for them on the plea that they were quaint and thoroughly English; whereat she laughed him to scorn; and so they reached the park. ”