-- Ready for work! Peter called through the open front door .

-- Got here a bit early . Anything special that has to be done today ?

Helen appeared at the top of the stairs .

-- Not really what you could call special , not any more than you've started on . But I'll join you in the vegie patch . I think we need to get rid of more of the old stuff and prepare for some new plantings . By the way , have you been in the Florist Shop at all ?

-- No , but I did have a bit of a look through the windows . I wanted to have a closer look myself at the woman who runs it . I noticed her noticing me the other day , when I was at the Wishing Well .

Helen smiled wryly .

-- She seems to have her finger on the village pulse .

-- Too right . I bet she was making the most of your little effort last night .

Helen looked somewhat surprised .

-- Has word got around about that already ?

-- Yep. Village telegraph seems to be even faster than bush telegraph , and I think it might be wise for you to look out for that Childs bloke . He wasn't too happy with you , and he had a shot at me as well this morning .

-- Good god ! Helen was plainly taken aback .

-- What happened?

Peter told her of the confrontation, admitting to his own addition to Jim's woes . Then he added :

-- He'll not be doing too much too soon. I told you -- I keep on the right side of the law . The constable has got him in the pokey for a while . I bet Mrs Day saw all that as well .

-- While you were looking , said Helen , you didn't happen to notice if she sells seeds as well as flowers ?

-- I think there might have been a stand in the shop there with packets on it .

-- Ah , good . Then we might make a trip there together and see what we can pick up in the way of vegetable seeds . Maybe a few flower seeds too. This place could do with some brightening up.

-- How's your water supply ? You'll need a fair bit . You don't have town water laid on up here .

-- I think that there must be some sort of underground stream -- anyway the big well is always full . One day I might be able to get the plumbing seen to properly .

Helen led him out into the kitchen garden and pointed out the big well , which had what looked like a fairly new demand type pump attached .

-- My relative might have been old , said Helen , but she did generally look out for the necessaries .

-- I might be able to help a bit to work the supply , said Peter .

-- I had to work on tanks and pumps out in the Riverina . Got to be pretty good with the ag. pipes , too , when I was on the North Coast. You have to be a bit of a handy man in the country areas . I take after my old man in that . And his old man as well . Jacks of all trades , our lot .

He laughed at the pun on his name , and Helen smiled as well .

They began their common task in the garden , with only the odd clipped reference to the value of this plant or that . After a long time of companionable silence , Helen stopped her weeding , glanced sideways at Peter and then away , as she asked

-- Would you like to tell me about your family?

-- What's to tell ? We're a pretty humdrum lot. Anyway , I don't really have a direct family any more .

-- Oh ? said Helen , looking up straight at him.

-- I'm an only child . Parents both dead . Car accident on the Pacific Highway . Their car got mashed by a bloody great semi-trailer on one of the accident black spots .

-- Oh , I'm sorry to hear that , sympathised Helen .

-- So , any other close family ?

-- None you could call close . Lot of distant cousins on my mother's side .

-- Any English relatives ?

-- None that I could trace . I did a bit of a check before I came over here. My grandfather , my father's father , I mean , was English , so that just lets me in here as a patrial , or whatever it is they call it. So I can work over here , at least

He chuckled .

-- As far as my mother's lot are concerned , they go back almost to convict days . Not quite convicts really-- though I get the feeling that some of them should have been gaolbirds . My mother's grandfather , now .....

He trailed off.

-- Anyway , they were a pretty uninteresting lot . Of course there're the usual skeletons in the cupboard , and a couple on the wrong side of the blanket , but no-one I could boast about or complain about . Pretty undistinguished all round .

-- So no relatives over here then ?

-- Not a one . Did a thorough check before I came over in case I could meet anyone . But there was absolutely nobody that I could trace.

Helen straightened up from her gardening .

-- Interesting . she said .

-- Time for morning tea . Come on inside , I've got something to show you.