The predator that had set off the currawong’s urgent warning was a carriage attended by her husband’s secretary, Mr James Greensmith, come to take them to the railway station. They were to attend a pro-Federation reception at Penrith as guests of the mayor and the mayoress.

‘It is Mr Greensmith, madam,’ said Alice, appearing in the doorway and looking startled, though he was a frequent enough visitor.

‘Show him in, Alice. Mr Greensmith, please sit down. Have you breakfasted?’

Her husband’s secretary, that ambitious young man, pleasant of feature with a keen eye for a fine suit of clothes and a smart gentleman’s hat, blushed furiously, as he was wont to do when alone, however briefly, with his employer’s wife.

He appeared now to cast about for an appropriate response. ‘I have breakfasted, thank you, Mrs Dunlevy.’ He stood just inside the door, so that Alice had to move around him to get out. He carried a letter for the minister that he crushed in his hand then hastily smoothed again.

‘But you will join me in a cup of coffee. Or tea perhaps?’

Faced with further alarming questions, Mr Greensmith nodded. ‘Coffee would be most welcome. But please, let me.’ And he darted forward, perceiving coffee pot and cups on the table and availing himself of both before resuming his position by the door.

‘Please do sit, I beg you, Mr Greensmith. I am not nearly ready, as you see, and shall need to abandon you for a time while I go upstairs. My husband will, I am sure, join you soon.’

She excused herself, taking up the morning newspaper, and withdrew with it clutched in her hand, and the way James Greensmith observed her one might think he had never before in his life seen his employer’s wife with a newspaper.

They were to catch the eleven o’clock train, so why Mr Greensmith had arrived to convey them to the station at nine o’clock was a mystery. It meant he had a very long wait indeed while Eleanor readied herself and gave some thought to selecting the most appropriate hat. Something bright and large and grand, she decided, for they were to travel to Penrith and the elegant hats she had purchased in the city this season could hardly be appreciated by the drovers’ wives whom one met in such places. As the wife of the minister, the people must be able to see her from some distance and they should feel that though she understood, was sympathetic even to their concerns, yet she was separate from them and would always remain so. The hat she selected was plum-coloured and wide of brim and sported a large ostrich feather that sprouted from the crown and trailed opulently behind her.