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〃Hum！ There was a…ha…governess； or something； was there not？〃 said Frere； staring into his tea…cup。 〃That maid； you knowwhat was her name？〃
〃Miss Purfoy；〃 said Mrs。 Vickers； a little gravely。 〃Yes； poor thing！ A sad story； Mr。 Frere。〃
Frere's eye twinkled。
〃Indeed！ I left； you know； shortly after the trial of the mutineers； and never heard the full particulars。〃 He spoke carelessly； but he awaited the reply with keen curiosity。
〃A sad story！〃 repeated Mrs。 Vickers。 〃She was the wife of that wretched man； Rex； and came out as my maid in order to be near him。 She would never tell me her history； poor thing； though all through the dreadful accusations made by that horrid doctorI always disliked that manI begged her almost on my knees。 You know how she nursed Sylvia and poor John。 Really a most superior creature。 I think she must have been a governess。〃
Mr。 Frere raised his eyebrows abruptly； as though he would say； Governess！ Of course。 Happy suggestion。 Wonder it never occurred to me before。 〃However； her conduct was most exemplaryreally most exemplaryand during the six months we were in Hobart Town she taught little Sylvia a great deal。 Of course she could not help her wretched husband； you know。 Could she？〃
〃Certainly not！〃 said Frere heartily。 〃I heard something about him too。 Got into some scrape； did he not？ Half a cup； please。〃
〃Miss Purfoy； or Mrs。 Rex； as she really was； though I don't suppose Rex is her real name eithersugar and milk； I think you saidcame into a little legacy from an old aunt in England。〃 Mr。 Frere gave a little bluff nod； meaning thereby； Old aunt！ Exactly。 Just what might have been expected。 〃And left my service。 She took a little cottage on the New Town road； and Rex was assigned to her as her servant。〃
〃I see。 The old dodge！〃 says Frere； flushing a little。 〃Well？〃
〃Well； the wretched man tried to escape； and she helped him。 He was to get to Launceston； and so on board a vessel to Sydney； but they took the unhappy creature； and he was sent down here。 She was only fined； but it ruined her。〃
〃Ruined her？〃
〃Well； you see； only a few people knew of her relationship to Rex； and she was rather respected。 Of course； when it became known； what with that dreadful trial and the horrible assertions of Dr。 Pine you will not believe me； I know； there was something about that man I never likedshe was quite left alone。 She wanted me to bring her down here to teach Sylvia； but John thought that it was only to be near her husband； and wouldn't allow it。〃
〃Of course it was；〃 said Vickers； rising。 〃Frere； if you'd like to smoke； we'll go on the verandah。…She will never be satisfied until she gets that scoundrel free。〃 〃He's a bad lot； then？〃 says Frere； opening the glass window； and leading the way to the sandy garden。 〃You will excuse my roughness； Mrs。 Vickers； but I have become quite a slave to my pipe。 Ha； ha； it's wife and child to me！〃
〃Oh； a very bad lot；〃 returned Vickers； 〃quiet and silent； but ready for any villainy。 I count him one of the worst men we have。 With the exception of one or two more； I think he is the worst。〃
〃Why don't you flog 'em？〃 says Frere； lighting his pipe in the gloom。 〃By George； sir； I cut the hides off my fellows if they show any nonsense！〃
〃Well；〃 says Vickers； 〃I don't care about too much cat myself。 Barton； who was here before me； flogged tremendously； but I don't think it did any good。 They tried to kill him several times。 You remember those twelve fellows who were hung？ No！ Ah； of course； you were away。〃
〃What do you do with 'em？〃
〃Oh； flog the worst； you know； but I don't flog more than a man a week； as a rule； and never more than fifty lashes。 They're getting quieter now。 Then we iron； and dumb…cells； and maroon them。〃
〃Do what？〃
〃Give them solitary confinement on Grummet Island。 When a man gets very bad； we clap him into a boat with a week's provisions and pull him over to Grummet。 There are cells cut in the rock； you see； and the fellow pulls up his commissariat after him； and lives there by himself for a month or so。 It tames them wonderfully。〃
〃Does it？〃 said Frere。 〃By Jove！ it's a capital notion。 I wish I had a place of that sort at Maria。〃
〃I've a fellow there now；〃 says Vickers； 〃Dawes。 You remember him； of coursethe ringleader of the mutiny in the Malabar。 A dreadful ruffian。 He was most violent the first year I was here。 Barton used to flog a good deal； and Dawes had a childish dread of the cat。 When I came inwhen was it？in '29； he'd made a sort of petition to be sent back to the settlement。 Said that he was innocent of the mutiny； and that the accusation against him was false。〃
〃The old dodge；〃 said Frere again。 〃A match？ Thanks。〃
〃Of course； I couldn't let him go； but I took him out of the chain…gang； and put him on the Osprey。 You saw her in the dock as you came in。 He worked for some time very well； and then tried to bolt again。〃
〃The old trick。 Ha！ ha！ don't I know it？〃 says Mr。 Frere； emitting a streak of smoke in the air； expressive of preternatural wisdom。
〃Well； we caught him； and gave him fifty。 Then he was sent to the chain…gang； cutting timber。 Then we put him into the boats； but he quarrelled with the coxswain； and then we took him back to the timber…rafts。 About six weeks ago he made another attempttogether with Gabbett； the man who nearly killed youbut his leg was chafed with the irons； and we took him。 Gabbett and three more； however； got away。〃
〃Haven't you found 'em？〃 asked Frere； puffing at his pipe。
〃No。 But they'll come to the same fate as the rest；〃 said Vickers； with a sort of dismal pride。 〃No man ever escaped from Macquarie Harbour。〃
Frere laughed。 〃By the Lord！〃 said he； 〃it will be rather hard for 'em if they don't come back before the end of the month； eh？〃
〃Oh；〃 said Vickers； 〃they're sure to comeif they can come at all； but once lost in the scrub； a man hasn't much chance for his life。〃
〃When do you think you will be ready to move？〃 asked Frere。
〃As soon as you wish。 I don't want to stop a moment longer than I can help。 It is a terrible life； this。〃
〃Do you think so？〃 asked his companion； in unaffected surprise。 〃I like it。 It's dull； certainly。 When I first went to Maria I was dreadfully bored； but one soon gets used to it。 There is a sort of satisfaction to me； by George； in keeping the scoundrels in order。 I like to see the fellows' eyes glint at you as you walk past 'em。 Gad； they'd tear me to pieces； if they dared； some of 'em！〃 and he laughed grimly； as though the hate he inspired was a thing to be proud of。
〃How shall we go？〃 asked Vickers。 〃Have you got any instructions？〃
〃No；〃 says Frere； 〃it's all left to you。 Get 'em up the best way you can； Arthur said； and pack 'em off to the new peninsula。 He thinks you too far off here； by George！ He wants to have you within hail。〃
〃It's dangerous taking so many at once；〃 suggested Vickers。
〃Not a bit。 Batten 'em down and keep the sentries awake； and they won't do any harm。〃
〃But Mrs。 Vickers and the child？〃
〃I've thought of that。 You take the Ladybird with the prisoners； and leave me to bring up Mrs。 Vickers in the Osp