But there was another factor in Benjamin’s acceptance — and his failure to go droving, in rebellion, and to enlist by another name while far away. By 1915 Miss Mattingale was well into her sixties, beyond retiring age, though no one would dare to tell her so. Instead she was given the title Principal and a new cottage was built for the ‘assistant teacher’.

Mary Rankin was a rebellious young woman who had worn her father down until he allowed her to receive a university education and, as soon as she was twenty-one, she headed to the bush — and Overflow.

She was three years older than Benjamin and he had only been back from Albany for three months when they were engaged, in 1919.

Clancy sat, helpless, as they stood in the parlour hand in hand to announce their forthcoming nuptials. The same parlour of Flora’s despair, of Maria’s paper flowers, and which Rose had so carefully made over for their new family; the furniture was shabby now, but no one had thought to replace it, and visitors like Matilda and Tommy or the Sampsons or Miss Mattingale did not appear to notice.

‘Have you told your parents?’ asked Rose quietly.

Mary laughed. ‘Ben only just asked me.’

‘It’s customary for a young man to ask permission of his prospective bride’s father,’ said Clancy, equally quietly.

Mary took Benjamin’s hand. ‘He won’t give it, though we’ll go up there so Ben can meet them. They can choose to come to the wedding or not. But I’m marrying Ben.’

You don’t know what you’re giving up, thought Clancy as the girl lifted her chin and said, ‘I know what I’m giving up, Mr Clancy. But I know what I’m gaining too. I don’t want to ever leave Overflow.’ She smiled at him gently, this stubborn, intelligent, wonderful child who would be the mother of his grandchildren.

‘And the bush hath friends to meet him,’ she quoted, ‘And their kindly voices greet him, In the murmur of the breezes, And the river on its bars. How could I ever leave that now?’

He would show her the letter from the poet later. Mary deserved that. But he knew it would not change her mind.

Nor did she ever seem to doubt it, even after the visit to Sydney that neither she nor Benjamin would talk about.