His opposition apparently made Miss Grant determined to go on with the scheme, and she gave Charlie carte blanche in the matter.
When race-day arrived, there was quite a merry party at the homestead.
Carew was making himself very attentive to Ellen Harriott, Mary was flirting very openly with Charlie Gordon, to Hugh's intense misery; and it was whispered about the station that the younger brother would be deposed in favour of the elder.
Hugh did not want to go to the races, but Mary asked him so directly that he had no option.
It was a typical Australian Spring day.

The sky was blue, the air was fresh, the breeze made great, long, rippling waves in the grass, and every soul in the place--Mary in particular--seemed determined to enjoy it to the utmost.
Revoke, the station champion, came in first in his race, and was promptly disqualified for short weight, but Mary didn't care.
"What is the use of worrying over it ?" she said.

"It doesn't really matter." "I have been done," said the bushman.

"Red Mick lent me the lead-cloth, and helped me saddle up, and I believe he took some lead out while we were saddling.

It never dropped out.