There was a
dim kind of haze rising from the excessive heat, hanging midway between
heaven and earth, and through its tremulous veil the distant hills
looked aerial and unreal.
Stretched out before her was the garden with its intensely vivid
flowers. To look at them merely was to increase one's caloric
condition. Great bushes of oleanders, with their bright pink
blossoms, luxurious rose trees, with their yellow, red, and white
blooms, and all along the border a rainbow of many-coloured flowers,
with such brilliant tints that the eye ached to see them in the hot
sunshine, and turned restfully to the cool green of the trees which
encircled the lawn. In the centre was a round pool, surrounded by a
ring of white marble, and containing a still sheet of water, which
flashed like a mirror in the blinding light.
The homestead of Yabba Yallook station was a long low house, with no
upper-storey, and with a wide verandah running nearly round it. Cool
green blinds were hung between the pillars to keep out the sun, and all
along were scattered lounging chairs of basket-work, with rugs, novels,
empty soda-water bottles, and all the other evidences that Mr.
Frettlby's guests had been wise, and stayed inside during the noonday
heat.
Madge was seated in one of these comfortable chairs, and she divided
her attention between the glowing beauty of the world outside, which
she could see through a narrow slit in the blinds.
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