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           Theraincameandwent,sometimesadequate,sometimestoomuch,sometimestoolittle,butnot,thankGod,everanotherdroughtlikethegreatone.Graduallythenumberofsheepbuiltupandthequalityofthewoolimprovedoverpre-droughttimes,nomeanfeat.Breedingwasthe"in"thing.PeopletalkedofHaddonRignearWarren,startedactivelycompetingwithitsowner,MaxFalkiner,forthetopramandeweprizesattheRoyalEasterShowinSydney.Andthepriceofwoolbegantocreepup,thenskyrocketed.Europe,theUnitedStatesandJapanwerehungryforeverybitoffinewoolAustraliacouldproduce.Othercountriesyieldedcoarserwoolsforheavyfabrics,carpets,felts;butonlythelong,silkyfibersfromAustralianmerinoscouldmakeawoolentextilesofineitslippedthroughthefingerslikesoftestlawn.Andthatsortofwoolreacheditspeakoutontheblack-soilplainsofnorthwestNewSouthWalesandsouthwestQueensland.

           Itwasasifafteralltheyearsoftribulation,ajustrewardhadarrived.Drogheda’sprofitssoaredoutofallimagination.Millionsofpoundseveryyear.Feesatatherdeskradiatingcontentment,Bobputanothertwostockmenonthebooks.Ifithadn’tbeenfortherabbits,pastoralconditionswouldhavebeenideal,buttherabbitswereasmuchofablightasever.

           Onthehomesteadlifewassuddenlyverypleasant.ThewirescreeninghadexcludedfliesfromallDroghedainteriors;nowthatitwasupandeveryonehadgrownusedtoitsappearance,theywonderedhowtheyhadeversurvivedwithoutit.