Page:While the Billy Boils, 1913.djvu/143

 family's gone away―Lord knows where. They weren't much loss, to all accounts. The sons got into trouble, I b'lieve―went to the bad. They had a bad name here.'

'Did they? Well, they had good hearts―at least, old Malachi Duggan and the eldest son had.…You can give me a couple of pounds of sugar.'

'Right. I suppose it's a long time since you were here last?'

'Fifteen years.'

'Indeed!'

'Yes. I don't s'pose I remind you of anyone you know round here?'

'N―no!' said the grocer, with a smile. 'I can't say you do.'

'Ah, well! I s'pose I'll find the Wilds still living in the same place?'

'The Wilds? Well, no. The old man is dead, too, and'

'And―and where's Jim? He ain't dead?'

'No; he's married and settled down in Sydney.'

Long pause.

'Can you―' said the stranger, hesitatingly; 'did you―I suppose you knew Mary―Mary Wild?'

'Mary?' said the grocer, smilingly. 'That was my wife's maiden name. Would you like to see her?'

'No, no! She mightn't remember me!'

He reached hastily for his swag, and shouldered it.

'Well, I must be gettin' on.'

'I s'pose you'll camp here over Christmas?'

'No; there's nothing to stop here for―I'll push on. I did intend to have a Christmas here―in fact, I came