Henry Handel Richardson

“ No, he must leave the diggings --and Mahony rolled various schemes in his mind. He had it! In the course of the next week or two business would make a journey to Melbourne imperative. Well, he would damn the extra expense and take the boy along with him! Purdy was at a loose end, and would no doubt rise like a fish to a fly at the chance of getting to town free of cost. After all, why be hard on him? He was not much over twenty, and, at that age, it was natural enough--especially in a place like this--for a lad to flit like a butterfly from every cup that took his restless fancy.
Restless? . . ”

“ Brushing aside his dreams of a peaceful Sabbath Mahony made preparations for his journey. Waking his assistant, he gave the man--a stupid clodhopper, but honest and attached--instructions how to manage during his absence, then sent him to the township to order horses. Himself, he put on his hat and went out to look for Purdy. ”

“ Ocock, you need a woman about your place, to make it a bit more homelike," said Mahony, calling to mind the pigstye in which Ocock and his sons housed.
"Course I do!" agreed Ocock. "And Melia, she'll come out to 'er daddy soon as ever th'ol' woman kicks the bucket.--Drat 'er! It's 'er I've got to thank for all the mischief."
"Well, well!" said Mahony, and rising knocked out his pipe on the log. Did his old neighbour once get launched on the subject of his wife's failings, there was no stopping him. "We all have our crosses." ”