Messengers came from ’Possum’s home very often—Bill or little Joe riding over with news of the farm and inquiries for the Missus.  Bertha was doin’ fine, they said.  "Never puts her nose outside the kitchen, an’ my word! she cooks a treat!" was Bill’s verdict.  "Yes, the house looks all right—why wouldn’t it?  Dad was busy all day harvestin’ at Mackenzie’s, but he came home at night.  An’ the wool was sold, an’ Dad said to tell Mr. Macleod it was the best price he’d had for years, so Mr. Macleod’s wool, bein’ along with it, must have brought him luck."  After which recitals Bill and Joe would consume enormous quantities of tea and cake and reluctantly take the track for home.  They confided to Garth that Bert was a pretty good cook, an’ all that, but it wasn’t like havin’ ’Poss.