Midsummer's Eve

There was a faint breeze which was pleasant. I broke into a gallop and was soon in the heart of shrub land.

There was something grand about the landscape. Gregory had talked a great deal about it. He had told us about the natives-"abos" he called them. He had several of them working on the land. "Good workers when they work," he said. "But you don't know what to expect. They suddenly take it into their heads to get up and go ... 'go walk-about,' they call it. Sometimes they come back, but like as not you'll never see them again.”

I thought about them. Bewildered perhaps, trying to change their lives to fit in with these people who had come and taken possession of their land.

He had told us about the animals; the kangaroos with their young in their pouches.

We had seen several; and the little ones they called wallabies.

There was so much to see that was new to us. We used to sit and talk over meals when my mother liked to keep everyone at the table for as long as possible.

Gregory always talked glowingly. It became more and more clear that he loved the land and had made it his own. Through him we heard of the plagues of locusts which destroyed the crops, the raging forest fires which could encircle a hamlet and destroy it and even threaten the towns, of the most frequent threat of all to the farms: the dreaded drought.

He talked of koalas and wombats and the beautifully plumaged birds seen in some parts.

We did not see many of these at Sealands Creek, but occasionally he would point out a flying mouse or a lyre bird.

I enjoyed hearing Gregory talk about the country.

I rode on thinking of him. The property extended for miles and I felt that while I was on my father's land I was safe.

All the same there had been many warnings and I had to be careful.

I looked back. Far in the distance I could see the house. I dismounted, tied my horse to a dwarf shrub and sat down.

I thought about the strangeness of everything since I had come to London and once again I found myself going over it all.

Soon, I thought, we shall go home, and things will be normal again. And Helena ... where would she go? Would she live with Matthew ... help him with his book perhaps? She had shown no interest in it. But she would have the baby. I had a feeling that when , that child came all her attention would be for it.

The heat was intense. I had been rather silly to come out at this time of day. I closed my eyes and dozed.

I awoke with a start and for the moment wondered where I was. Remembering, I rose to my feet. There was a mist in the air. I could not see the house now. I was not disturbed. I knew the direction. I would ride back at once.

Then I saw that my horse was not where I had left it and I began to feel afraid.

I had not tethered him securely enough and he must have wandered off. The mist had obscured the sun and it was not so hot now. That was a blessing. But I wished I could see the house.

I started to walk. Soon the house must be in sight.

I went on. Time passed. The mist had not thickened but I could kill not see the house.

A group of eucalyptus loomed up beside me. lad I noticed them before? I was not sure.

There was such a similarity about the landscape wherever one was.

A terrible fear came to me then that I might be lost. I remembered Gregory's warning.

People walked for miles and then found they had been going round in circles.

I sank down beside a clump of shrubs.

Was I walking round in circles? Was I walking farther away from the house? I had no way of knowing.

The best thing was to wait until the mist cleared. That might be hours. Oh, how foolish I had been. I should have started back as soon as the mist began to rise; I should never have sat down and dozed. I should have taken the warnings more seriously. I should never have gone out alone.

Must I stay all night here? What of the dingoes? I should imagine they would be rather unfriendly. There were native cats ... wild, I expected.

I was now very frightened. There is nothing worse than being undecided in such a situation. If only I knew what to do ... to go on walking or to stay where I was.

And while I was trying to make up my mind I heard a sound which seemed to come from a long way off. It was the call I had heard one man give to another when they wanted their whereabouts known. "Cooee.”

With all my strength I called back: "Cooee.”

I waited tensely; and then the call came again. I answered it. It was coming nearer.

I went on calling and the answer came back.

Then Gregory came riding through the mist.

He leaped from his horse and with his hands on his hips stood regarding me sardonically.

Then he said: "You little idiot. How many times have I told you... ?”

"I know. I know. But who would have thought it would suddenly be misty like this?”

"Anyone with any sense," he retorted.

He took me by the shoulders and shook me.

"You ought to be spanked," he said. He laughed familiarly. "And I'd like to be the one to do it.”