Then he made up his mind, walked in a slack
moment to the inn at Clifton, ordered a sheet of paper
and a bottle of beer, and wrote, explaining that he
held a good appointment which he would lose if he came
to Sydney, and asking the lawyer to accept this letter
as an evidence of his presence in the colony, and
retain the money till next quarter-day. The answer
came in course of post, and was not merely favourable
but cordial. "Although what you propose is contrary to
the terms of my instructions," it ran, "I willingly
accept the responsibility of granting your request. I
should say I am agreeably disappointed in your
behaviour. My experience has not led me to found much
expectations on gentlemen in your position."
The rains abated, and the temporary labour was
discharged; not Norris, to whom the engineer clung as
to found money; not Norris, who found himself a ganger
on the line in the regular staff of navvies. His camp
was pitched in a grey wilderness of rock and forest,
far from any house; as he sat with his mates about the
evening fire, the trains passing on the track were
their next, and indeed their only, neighbours, except
the wild things of the wood.
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