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           Topreventcrawliesfromgettingupinsidethelegsoftheirbaggytrouserstheytiedstripsofkangaroohidecalledbowyangsbelowtheirknees,gigglingatthesilly-soundingname,butawedbythenecessity.NewZealandwastamecomparedtothis;thiswaslife.

           Tiedtothehouseanditsimmediateenvirons,thewomenfoundlifemuchlesstotheirliking,fortheyhadnottheleisureortheexcusetoride,nordidtheyhavethestimulationofvaryingactivities.Itwasjusthardertodowhatwomenalwaysdid:cook,clean,wash,iron,careforbabies.Theybattledtheheat,thedust,theflies,themanysteps,themuddywater,thenearlyperennialabsenceofmentocarryandchopwood,pumpwater,killfowls.Theheatespeciallywashardtobear,anditwasasyetonlyearlyspring;evenso,thethermometeroutontheshadyverandareachedahundreddegreeseveryday.Insidethekitchenwiththerangegoing,itwasahundredandtwentydegrees.

           Theirmanylayersofclothingwereclose-fittinganddesignedforNewZealand,whereinsidethehouseitwasalmostalwayscool.MaryCarson,exercisinggentlybywalkingdowntoseehersister-in-law,lookedatFee’shigh-necked,floor-lengthcalicogownsuperciliously.Sheherselfwascladinthenewfashion,acreamsilkdresscomingonlyhalfwaydownhercalves,withlooseelbowsleeves,nowaistandalowdécolletage.

           "Really,Fiona,you’rehopelesslyold-fashioned,"shesaid,glancingroundtheparlorwithitsfreshcoatofcreampaint,thePersiancarpetsandthespindlypricelessfurniture.