Chapter 8

           ThenewyearcameinwithAngusMacQueen’sannualHogmanaypartyonRudnaHunish,andstillthemovetothebighousehadnotbeenaccomplished.Itwasn’tsomethingdoneovernight,betweenpackingoversevenyears’accumulationofeverydayartifacts,andFee’sdeclarationthatthebighousedrawingroomatleastbefinishedfirst.Noonewasintheslightesthurry,thougheveryonewaslookingforwardtoit.Insomerespectsthebighousewouldprovenodifferent:itlackedelectricityandthefliespopulateditjustasthickly.Butinsummeritwasabouttwentydegreescoolerthanoutside,fromthethicknessofitsstonewallsandtheghostgumsshadingitsroof.Also,thebathhousewasatrueluxury,havinghotwaterallwinterfrompipeswhichranupthebackofthevastfuelstoveinthecookhousenextdoor,andeverydropinitspipeswasrainwater.Thoughbathsandshowershadtobetakeninthislargestructurewithitstenseparatecubicles,thebighouseandallthesmallerhouseswereliberallyendowedwithindoorwater-closettoilets,anunheard-ofdegreeofopulenceenviousGillyresidentshadbeencaughtcallingsybaritism.AsidefromtheHotelImperial,twopubs,theCatholicpresbyteryandtheconvent,theGillanbonedistrictsurvivedonout-houses.ExceptDroghedahomestead,thankstoitsenormousnumberoftanksandroofstocatchrainwater.Theruleswerestrict:noundueflushing,andplentyofsheep-dipdisinfectant.Butafterholesintheground,itwasheaven.