“That you, Jaz boy?” he said in a quiet tone. “Why the blazes didn’t you come half an hour sooner, or half a minute later? You got me just as I’d taken the jump, and I fell all over the bloomin’ hedge. Come in. You’ll make a nervous wreck of me between you.” The figure entered. It was William James, the brother-in-law. Somers heard him go again in about ten minutes. But Harriet did not notice. CHAP: IV. JACK AND JAZ The following evening Somers could feel waves of friendliness coming across the hedge, from Victoria. And she kept going out to the gate to look for Jack, who was late returning home. And as she went, she always looked long towards the verandah of Torestin, to catch sight of the Somers. Somers felt the yearning and amicable advance in the atmosphere. For some time he disregarded it. Then at last he went out to look at the nightfall. It was early June. The sun had set beyond the land, casting a premature shadow of night. But the eastern sky was very beautiful, full of pure, pure light, the light of the southern seas, next the Antarctic. There was a great massive cloud settling low, and it was all gleaming, a golden, physical glow. Then across the upper sky trailed a thin line of little dark clouds, like a line of porpoises swimming in the extremely beautiful clarity. “Isn’t it a lovely evening again?” Victoria called to him as he stood on the summer-house top. “Very lovely. Australia never ceases to be a wonderland for me, at nightfall,” he answered. “Aha!” she said. “You are fond of the evening?” He had come down from his point of vantage, and they stood near together by the fence. “In Europe I always like morning best--much best. I can’t say what it is I find so magical in the evening here.” “No!” she replied, looking upwards round the sky. “It’s going to rain.” “What makes you think so?” he asked. “It looks like it--and it feels like it. I expect Jack will be here before it comes on.” “He’s late to-night, is he?” “Yes. He said he might be. Is it six o’clock?” “No, it’s only a little after five.” “Is it? I needn’t be expecting him yet, then. He won’t be home till quarter past six.” She was silent for a while. “We shall soon have the shortest day,” she said. “I am glad when it has gone. I always miss Jack so much when the evening comes, and he isn’t home. You see I was used to a big family, and it seems a bit lonely to me yet, all alone in the cottage. That’s why we’re so glad to have you and Mrs Somers next door. We get on so well, don’t we? Yes, it’s surprising. I always felt nervous of English people before. But I love Mrs Somers. I think she’s lovely.” “You haven’t been married long?” asked Somers. “Not quite a year. It seems a long time in some ways. I wouldn’t not be with Jack, not for anything. But I do miss my family. We were six of us all at home together, and it makes such a difference, being all alone.” “Was your home in Sydney?”