HewasparticularlyfondofAnnieColborn，whosefatherwasamagistrateandagoldcommissioner，andapersonofverygreatimportance。WhetherornotKingBillywaswiseinhisgeneration，andoutoftheunwrittenScripturesofthesomberbushhadculledamaximinculcatingthewisdomofmakingfriendsofthesonsofMammon，I
　　cannotsay，buthewasalwaysgoodtoAnnie。Formyownpart，Idonotbelievethesimple-heartedoldkinghadanysuchnotioninsidehisthickantipodeanskull。Hewasgoodbecausehewasnotbad，whichistheverybestmoralityafterall，andagreatadvanceonmuchwehearof。And，besides，hewassometimeshungry，andMr。Colborn’sChinesecookwasveryhaughty，andnottobeapproachedexceptthroughanintermediary。AndwhosocapableofconciliatingWongasAnnie？Wongwouldmakehercakesevenwhenhispigtailhungdespondentlyfromhisachingheadafteranopiumdebauch，andhischeekswereshiningwithanythingbutgladness;forifyougetdrunkveryoftenonopiumyoushine。
　　OldBillywasmostlytobefoundwheretherewasachanceofadrink;
　　butifthefountainsweredriedup，orhehadbeeninsultedbysomedemocratic，revolutionary，king-hatingminerknockinghishighhatdownoverhiseyes，heusuallywentuptoMr。Colborn’splace，andsatonthefence，oronalogoutsidethegate。SohewasoftenverymelancholywhenAnniecameout。Onedayhishatwasvery，verybadlybulgedindeed。
　　"Yourhatisverybadto-day，KingBilly，"saidsix-year-oldAnnie，asshestoodinfrontofhimcritically，withherheadononeside。
　　Withoutknowingit，thechildhadcometolookuponthestateofthepoorking’shatasemblematicalofhisstateofmind。Whenitshutuplikeaclosedconcertinahisbarometerwaslow。
　　"Yes，missy，"saidtheking;"whitemanknock’umovereyes，and"——
　　witharubdownhisface——"skin’umnose。"
　　Sheinspectedhisnosecarefully——thoughfromacertaindistance，becauseherownnosewasverygood，bothinsideandout，andsheknewthekingnevergotwashedunlessitrainedwhenhewasverydrunk。Andthiswastheendofsummer。IthadnotrainedsinceNovember。
　　"Thereisnotverymuchskinoff，"saidAnnie。"Youhadbetterwashit。"
　　Thekingmadeawryfaceandchangedtheconversation。
　　"Yougot’umhat，MissyAnnie？Onehatbaalbrokum，allasamewhitefellowhat。Badhat，KingBillybad;blackfellow，whitefellowlaugh。"
　　Hepeeredintohishat，and，tryingtostraightenitout，puthisfistthroughtheside。PoorBillylookedasifhecouldcry。
　　"Youstopaminute，"saidAnnie，and，flyingindoors，shebroughtoutaverygoodhighhatindeed。"Budgeree！"thoughttheking，thatwasagoodhat。Hecouldgodownthestreetslikeakingindeed，abletoholduphisheadwithanyrichmaninBallarat。Hetriediton，andthoughitwasmuchtoobig，heknewitshone。Andthegloryofahatisinitsshiningasmuchasitsshape;evenablackfellowknowsthat。
　　Butthathatverynearlyledtoserioustrouble。Foronething，Mr。
　　Colbornmissedit;andneverthinkingAnniehadgivenitaway，whenhesawthekingsittingonthefencedecoratedwithit，hestoppedandinterviewedhim。
　　"Wheredidyougetthathat，youoldthief？"askedthemagistrate，withoutanypolitenesstohimwhoruledthelandbeforewhitemenbrokeintothecountry。Someinauthorityarepolitetothosetheydispossess;thePrussians，forinstance，tothemiserableKingBillyswhostrutabouttheempire。ButtheAnglo-Saxononlyrespectshimself，andeventhattoalimitedextent，innewconquests。
　　ThequestiontroubledKingBillygreatly。HedidnotknowthatMr。
　　ColbornwouldassoonhavethoughtofmurderingAnnieasofbullyingher;soheliedpromptly："Mebuy’um，MistahCobon！"
　　Mr。Colborntookitoffofhishead，andsawthatitwashis，ashehadthought。WhathewouldhavesaidIdonotknow，forjustthenheheardavoicebehindhim：
　　"Papa，itismyfault;IgaveittoKingBilly。"
　　Colbornturnedroundandtookherup，lettingfallthehatashedidso。Billymadeajump，pickeditup，and，inhisagitation，brusheditcarefullythewrongway。
　　"Mydear，ifyougaveittohimit’sallright。Butwhydidn’ttheoldfooltellme？"
　　"He’snotanoldfool，papa，andyoumustnotsayso。He’sagoodman，andIthinkhethoughtyouwouldbeangrywithme。Didn’tyou，KingBilly？"Andtheking，withasmileofconsciousrectitude，admitteditwasso。
　　Mr。Colborngavehimsixpence;andhegaveAnnieagreatmanykisses，declaring，withuncommonthoughtlessness，thatwhatevershedidwasright，andthatshecouldgivethekingallhishouse，andAustraliatoboot。WhereonKingBillysmiledasmilethatwasportentous，andshowedhisteethtotheuttermostrecessesofhisamplemouth。Lookingdown，hesurveyedtherestofhisclothes，whichinpartsresembledthechild’sdefinitionofanetasalotofholestiedtogetherwithstring，and，lookingup，heinspectedMr。Colbornasifestimatingtheresourcesofhiswardrobe。Butbeingurgentlysmittenwiththenecessityofgettingridofhissixpence，heshambledoffintothetown。Othermattersmightwait;thatadmittedofnodelay。
　　ThemindofKingBillywasnotabigmind;itwouldnomorehavetakeninanabstractideathanhis/gunyah/wouldhaveaccommodatedagrandpiano。Hewasassimpleassunlight，andtoresolvehisintellectintosevencolourswouldwantthemostingeniousspectroscope。Buthecouldmakeaninferencefromapositivefact，and，havingmadeit，hedidnotallowmoreremotedeductionstotroublehislegitimateconclusion。
　　HeceasedtofearMr。Colborn，andbegantolookuponthemagistrate’spropertyasifitwereatleasthalfhisown。Sohegotverydrunkonthehospitalityofanewchumminerwhohadbeensuccessful，andpresently，presumingonhisnewpossessions，gotintoafightwithhisentertainerandadisrespectfulsubkingofhisownblacks，andwasreducedtoworseragsthanever。
　　Nextmorninghesatoutsidethemagistrate’shouse，onthelowestloghecouldfind，andwhenMr。Colborncameouthetackledhimwiththeairofasubjectkingdemandingredressofhissuzerain。
　　"Well，Billy，whatisit？"askedthesuzerain。
　　"Youbelonggublement？"saidBillytheking，withaquestion，animplieddoubt，andagreatcomplaintinhisvoice。Colbornlaughed。
　　"Why，yes，Billy;Ibelongtothegovernment，Isuppose。"
　　"Then，"saidBilly，"whatyousaytowhitefellowmake’umblackfellowdrunk，knock’umallabout？Callyouthatgublement？"Andheshowedhiskinglyrobe，whichhadoncebeenafrock-coat，withgreatdisgust。
　　However，hemetwithnofavour，andwastoldthatheshouldnotgetdrunk——thatitservedhimright;withwhichmagisterialdecisionColborngotonhishorseandrodeofftotheflat。
　　Thekingsatdownsadlyandconsideredthicklyinhisslowbrain。
　　Anniedidnotcomeout，andheknewbetterthantoaskforher，forMr。Colborn’sniece，whokepthouseforhim，wasbutnewlycomefromhome，andthoughtallblackfellowscongenitalmurderers，whichindeedtheyareinsomepartsofthenorth。SoBillysatandwaited，forhewantedanewcoat。Howcouldheberespectedinonewhosenaturaldivisionswereunnaturallyextendedtotheveryneck？Itwasobviouslynecessarytogetanewgarmentatonce，andthebestchanceofagoodonelayinlittleAnnie’skindness。Butinordertoobviatetheslightestchanceofhisgirlpatron’srefusing，hemustbringhersomeoffering。Hewentoffintothebushatthebackofthetown，and，comingtowherethreeorfourblackfellowswerecamped，hesatdownandtalkedwiththem。Inspiteoftheheat，awretchedoldgin，muffledupinheronegarment，araggedblanket，heldherhandsoverthefewburningstickswhichrepresentanAustraliannative’sideaofafire。PresentlyKingBillyrose，and，takingatomahawk，wentfartherintothebush。Helookedabout，andatlastcametoatree，whichheclimbednativefashion，firstdiscardinghisclothes。Whennearthefirstbigbrancheshecametoahole，and，puttinginhishand，heextractedalivelyyoungpossumbythetail。
　　NextmorninghewassittingontheColborns’fenceasusual。Athisfeetwasalittleboxwithtwoorthreeslatsnailedroughlyacrossit。Insidewasthepossum。KingBillywonderedwhatkindofacoathecouldget。Helikedafrock-coat;therewassomethingmajesticaboutit，somethingfineandample。Commonmorningcoatswouldnotdo;noonewouldinsultakingbyofferinghimtweed;evenlittleAnnieknewbetterthanthat，especiallyifhegaveheralivepossumhehadcaughthimself。AndwhenAnniedidcomeout，shewasintheseventhheavenofdelightwiththepossum，andreadytobestowanythingintheworldonKingBilly。
　　"YougivepoorBillyonefellowcoat，missy，andhegodownalongstreetlikeaking。"
　　Annieflewintothehouseandseizedthefirstgarmentshelaidherlittlehandson。Itwasherfather’sdress-coat。Sherolleditup，and，runningout，thrustitexcitedlyintotheking’sblackpaw。Ashewentoff，shecarriedthepossumindoors，andwasdeliriouslyhappyforhours。
　　KingBillyhurriedintothebushtillhecametoawater-hole，and，strippingoffhisrags，heheldupthecoat。Hisjawfell;therewasaremarkableexiguityaboutthecoatwhichwasinexplicable。Hehadneverobservedsuchinhislife。Heputiton，and，bendingoverthesurfaceofthestillpool，tookagoodlookatthegeneraleffect。Itwasnotbadfromsomepointsofview，butBillyhadhisdoubtsastowhetherhewouldbereceivedwiththerespectduetohistitleifhewentintoBallaratclothedthus。Hetriedtobuttonit，butdiscoveredthat，ifithadeverbeenintendedforbuttoning，hecouldnotgetittomeetacrosshischest。Hepickeduphisdiscardedfrock-coat，whichwasheldtogetherbythecollar;thenhefeltthestuffofwhichthedress-coatwasmade，andthematerialpleasedhim。"Oh，why，"askedBilly，"haditnotbeenmadewithfronttails？"Hesawatlastthatthiscoatandhishighhatalonewereinsufficientforcivilisation。
　　Forfulldressinacorroboreeitmightdo。Unconsciously，hewassowroughtuponbythepurposeforwhichthecoathadbeenbuiltthathedeterminedtoreserveitforpartiesintheseclusionofthebush，whereanymerrimentcouldberightlycheckedbyacrackfromhiswaddy。Heplanteditcarefullyinahollowlog，and，havinginsertedhimselfwithasmuchcareintohisdiscardedrags，hewonderedoffintothetown。Hegotveryintoxicatedthatnight，anddeterminedtohaveapartyallbyhimself。
　　Nowitmayseemveryannoying，andIconfessIfinditsomyself;but，havinggotsofar，Idon’tseemywaytotelltherest，evenifAnnieColborntoldmethestoryherself。Forafterherfather’sdeathshemarriedamanwhohadasmallsheep-stationandahotelnotfortymilesfromCarabobla，inNewSouthWales。IstayedthereacoupleofdayswhenIwasgoingnorthtotheMurrumbidgee。Butthoughshetoldme，Icannottellitagain，atleastnotinbold，badprint。Still，itwilloccurtomostthatamanofKingBilly’ssweetandinnocentdispositionmightverylikelycreateasensation，whenhisnaturaldiscretionwasdrownedinbadwhisky，ifheendedhissolitarycorroboreeinthemoonlightbygoinguptoColborn’shouseinordertodeliveraspeechofgratitudethroughtheFrenchwindows。
　　SoColbornandthekinghadacorroboreealltothemselvesintheopenspacebeforethehouse，whilethegoldcommissioner’sguestsroaredwithlaughtertofindoutwherethemissingdress-coatwas。NextdayKingBillyresumedthesplitfrock-coat。
　　THYHEART’SDESIRE
　　BY
　　NETTASYRETT
　　Thetentswerepitchedinthelittleplainsurroundedbyhills。Rightandlefttherewerestretchesoftender，vividgreenwheretheyoungcornwasspringing;fartherstill，oneitherhand，theplainwasyellowwithmustard-flower;butintheimmediateforegrounditwasbareandstony。Afewthornybushespushedtheirstragglingwaythroughthedrysoil，ineffectivelyasfarasthegraceofthelandscapewasconcerned，fortheymerelyservedtoemphasisethebarrenaridnessofthelandthatstretchedbeforethetents，slopinggraduallytothedistanthills。
　　Thehillswereuninterestingenoughinthemselves;theyhadnograndeurofoutline，nopicturesquenesseven，thoughatmorningandeveningthesun，likeagreatmagician，clothedthemwithbeautyatatouch。
　　Theyhadbeguntochange，tosoften，toblushroseredintheeveninglight，whenawomancametotheentranceofthelargestofthetentsandlookedtowardthem。Sheleanedagainstthesupportononesideofthecanvasflap，and，puttingbackherhead，restedthat，too，againstit，whilehereyeswanderedovertheplainandoverthedistanthills。
　　Shewasbareheaded，forthecoveringofthetentprojectedafewfeettoformanawningoverhead。Thegentlebreezewhichhadrisenwithsundownstirredthesoftbrowntendrilsofhaironhertemples，andflutteredherpinkcottongownalittle。Shestoodverystill，withherarmshangingandherhandsclaspedlooselyinfrontofher。Therewasaboutherwholeattitudeanairofstudiedquietwhichinsomevaguefashiontheslightclaspofherhandsaccentuated。Herface，withitstightly，almostrigidlyclosedlips，wouldhavebeenquiteinkeepingwiththeimpressionofconsciouscalmwhichherentirepresencesuggested，haditnotbeenthatwhensheraisedhereyesastrangecontradictiontothisideawasafforded。Theywerelargegrayeyes，unusuallybrightandratherstartlingineffect，fortheyseemedtheonlylivethingabouther。Gleamingfromherstill，setface，therewassomethingalmostalarmingintheirbrilliancy。Theysoftenedwithasuddenglowofpleasureastheyrestedonthetranslucentgreenofthewheat-fieldsunderthebroadgeneroussunlight，andthenwanderedtowherethepurevividyellowofthemustard-flowerspreadinwavestothebaseofthehills，nowmysticallyveiledinradiance。
　　Shestoodmotionless，watchingtheirmelting，elusivechangesfrompalpitatingrosetothetransparentpurpleofamethyst。Thestillnessofeveningwasbrokenbythemonotonous，notunmusicalcreakingofaPersianwheelatsomelittledistancetotheleftofthetent。Thewellstoodinalittlegroveoftrees;betweentheirbranchesshecouldsee，whensheturnedherhead，thecolouredsarisofthevillagewomen，wheretheystoodingroupschatteringastheydrewthewater，andthelittlenakedbrownbabiesthattoddledbesidethemorsprawledonthehardgroundbeneaththetrees。Fromthevillageofflat-roofedmudhousesunderthelowhillatthebackofthetents，otherwomenwerecrossingtheplaintowardthewell，theirterra-cottawater-jarspoisedeasilyontheirheads，castinglongshadowsonthesun-bakedgroundastheycame。
　　Presently，inthedistance，fromthedirectionofthesunlithillsoppositealittlegroupofmencameintosight。Faroff，themustard-
　　colouredjacketsandtheredturbansoftheorderliesmadevividsplashesofcolouronthedullplain。Astheycamenearer，thegunsslungacrosstheirshoulders，thecasesofmathematicalinstruments，thehammers，andotherheavybaggagetheycarriedforthesahib，becamevisible。Alittleinfront，atwalkingpacerodethesahibhimself，makingnotesashecameinabookheheldbeforehim。Thegirlatthetententrancewatchedtheadvanceofthelittlecompanyindifferently，itseemed;exceptforaslighttighteningofthemusclesabouthermouth，herfaceremainedunchanged。Whilehewasstillsomelittledistanceaway，themanwiththenotebookraisedhisheadandsmiledawkwardlyashesawherstandingthere。Awkwardness，perhaps，bestdescribesthewholeman。Hewasbadlyputtogether，loose-jointed，ungainly。Thefactthathewastallprofitedhimnothing，foritmerelyemphasisedtheextremeungracefulnessofhisfigure。Hislongpalefacewasmadepalerbytheshockofcoarse，tow-
　　colouredhair;hiseyes，even，lookedcolourless，thoughtheywerecertainlytheleastuninterestingfeatureofhisface，fortheywerenotdevoidofexpression。Hehadawayofslouchingwhenhemovedthatsingularlyintensifiedthegeneraluncouthnessofhisappearance。"Areyouverytired？"askedhiswife，gently，whenhehaddismountedclosetothetent。Thequestionwouldhavebeenanunnecessaryonehaditbeenputtoherinsteadoftoherhusband，forhervoicehadthatpeculiarflattonelesssoundforwhichextremewearinessisanswerable。
　　"Well，no，mydear，notvery，"hereplied，drawlingoutthewordswithanexasperatingairofdeliveringafinalverdict，afterdeepreflectiononthesubject。
　　Thegirlglancedoncemoreatthefadingcoloursonthehills。"Comeinandrest，"shesaid，movingasidealittletolethimpass。
　　Shestoodlingeringamomentafterhehadenteredthetent，asthoughunwillingtoleavetheouterair;andbeforesheturnedtofollowhimshedrewadeepbreath，andherhandwentforoneswiftsecondtoherthroatasthoughshefeltstifled。
　　Lateronthateveningshesatinhertent，sewingbythelightofthelampthatstoodonherlittletable。
　　Oppositetoher，herhusbandstretchedhisungainlylengthinadeck-
　　chair，andturnedoverapileofofficialnotes。Everynowandthenhereyeswanderedfromthegaysilksofthetable-covershewasembroideringtothecanvaswallswhichboundedthenarrowspaceintowhichtheirfewhouseholdgoodswerecrowded。Outsidetherewasadeephush。Thesilenceofthevastemptyplainseemedtoworkitswayslowly，steadilyintowardthelittlepatchoflightsetinitsmidst。
　　Thegirlfeltitineverynerve;itwasasthoughsomesoft-footed，noiseless，shapelesscreature，whosepresencesheonlydimlydivined，wasapproachingnearer——/nearer/。Theheavyouterstillnesswasinsomewaymademoreterrifyingbytherustleofthepapersherhusbandwasreading，bythecreakingofhischairashemoved，andbythelittlefidgetinggruntsandhalf-exclamationswhichfromtimetotimebrokefromhim。Hiswife’shandshookateveryunintelligiblemutterfromhim，andtheslighthabitualcontractionbetweenhereyesdeepened。
　　Allatonceshethrewherworkdownontothetable。"Forheaven’ssake——/please/，John，/talk/！"shecried。Hereyes，forthemoment’sspaceinwhichtheymetthestartledonesofherhusband，hadawild，huntedlook，butitwasgonealmostbeforehisslowbrainhadtimetonotethatithadbeenthere——andwasvaguelydisturbing。Shelaughedalittleunsteadily。
　　"DidIstartleyou？I’msorry。I"——shelaughedagain——"IbelieveI’malittlenervous。Whenoneisalldayalone——"Shepausedwithoutfinishingthesentence。Theman’sfacechangedsuddenly。Awaveoftendernesssweptoverit，andatthesametimeanexpressionofhalf-
　　incredulousdelightshoneinhispaleeyes。
　　"Poorlittlegirl，areyoureallylonely？"hesaid。Eventherealfeelinginhistonefailedtorobhisvoiceofitspeculiarlyirritatinggratingquality。Heroseawkwardly，andmovedtohiswife’sside。
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