'Will was married yesterday. I have just read the account of the
ceremony--I can see it all--the usual semi-smart opulent wedding--palms
lining the aisle, Orange blossom galore. The bride "beautiful in
cream satin and old lace"--Evelyn Mary is simply a LUMP--Pages in
white velvet--The fussy overdressed Bagallay crowd of friends--I hear
there are no "in-laws," And the bridegroom's face--dark, cynical--I
know the sort of miserable smile and the queer glitter in his eyes.--
"I WILLOUGHBY TAKE THEE EVELYN MARY. . . FOR BETTER AND FOR
WORSE. . .TILL DEATH US DO PART ". . . There! I'm a blathering idiot to
mind. . .I ought to be dancing with joy at my escape. Let us end the
chapter. The incident is closed, I'm going for a long tramp by the sea and
shall post this on my way.

Your BIDDY.'




CHAPTER 6



Mrs Gildea was too busy in the next two or three weeks to trouble
herself unduly over Lady Bridget O'Hara's tragic love-affair. She had
to report on the small holders of property in Leichardt's Land and made
a trip for that purpose among the free-selectors in her own old
district. The TWENTY YEARS AFTER letter she wrote about this expedition
for THE IMPERIALIST was one of her best, and for that she was greatly
indebted to Colin McKeith's commentaries.