"You don't understand," they hastened to explain. "He'll be camping out
most of his time, miles away from the homestead," and I said, "So will
I."
"So you think," they corrected. "But you'll find that a woman alone in a
camp of men is decidedly out of place"; and I felt severely snubbed.
The Maluka suggested that he might yet succeed in persuading some
suitable woman to come out with us, as maid or companion; but the
opposition, wagging wise heads, pursed incredulous lips, as it declared
that "no one but a fool would go out there for either love or money." A
prophecy that came true, for eventually we went "bush" womanless.
The Maluka's eyes twinkled as he listened. "Does the cap fit, little
'un?" he asked; but the women-folk told him that it was not a matter for
joking.
"Do you know there is not another white woman within a hundred-mile
radius ?" they asked; and the Maluka pointed out that it was not all
disadvantage for a woman to be alone in a world of men. "The men who form
her world are generally better and truer men, because the woman in their
midst is dependent on them alone, for companionship, and love, and
protecting care," he assured them.
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