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Chapter 4

Movingattheclippingrateoftwentymilesaday,hewaswelcomedwhereverhestopped,pliedfornewsandweatherfaraway,handedthescribbledscrapsofpapercarefullywrappedaroundmoneyforgoodshewouldpurchaseinGilly,handedthelaboriouslywrittenletterswhichwentintothecanvassackmarked"RoyalGVRMail."

WestofGillytherewereonlytwostationsontheroute,Droghedacloserin,Bugelafartherout;beyondBugelalaytheterritorythatgotmailonlyonceeverysixmonths.Bluey’sdrayswunginagreatzigzaggingarethroughallthestationssouthwest,westandnorthwest,thenreturnedtoGillybeforesettingouteastward,asmallerjourneybecauseBoorootowntookoversixtymileseast.Sometimeshebroughtpeoplesittingbesidehimonhisunshelteredleatherseat,visitorsorhopefulslookingforwork;sometimeshetookpeopleaway,visitorsordiscontentedstockmenormaidsorrouseabouts,veryoccasionallyagoverness.Thesquattersownedcarstotransportthemselves,butthosewhoworkedforthesquattersdependeduponBlueyfortransportaswellasgoodsandletters.

AftertheboltsofclothFeehadorderedcameonthemail,shesatdownatthedonatedsewingmachineandbegantomakeloosedressesinlightcottonforherselfandMeggie,lighttrousersandoverallsforthemen,smocksforHal,curtainsforthewindows.Therewasnodoubtitwascoolerminuslayersofunderwearandtightlyfittingouterwear.