# Considine explained — An Outback Marriage

> Chapter companion for An Outback Marriage by Banjo Paterson.

## What happens

Carew and Gordon find Considine, who signs over his land rights. Carew reveals that Considine is heir to a fortune in England. Considine celebrates with rum, then reveals he is already married to a woman he met at Pike's pub, which complicates his plans to take his two Aboriginal companions, Maggie and Lucy, to England.

## Themes in this chapter

### Colonial Identity and the Bush

Considine's lifestyle, his relationship with Aboriginal women, and his disdain for English hunting customs illustrate the divide between bush life and English society.

### Deception and Fraud

Considine's marriage under a false name (Keogh) raises questions about the validity of the marriage and potential fraud.

### Survival and Resilience

Considine's ability to endure isolation, hard work, and physical hardship in the bush exemplifies survival and resilience.

## Character check-ins

### Patrick Henry Considine

Revealed as the missing heir; signs over his land; discloses his marriage to a woman at Pike's pub.

### Mr. Carew

Identifies Considine as the heir; struggles with the hard ground while camping.

### Charlie Gordon

Witnesses the signing and the revelation of Considine's inheritance.

### Ah Loy

Drinks rum slowly; described as a connoisseur of the spirit.

### Maggie Donohoe

One of Considine's Aboriginal companions; drinks rum with the others.

### Lucy

Considine's other Aboriginal companion; drinks rum and is described as a good horse-hunter.

## Key lines

> So I goes after 'em down the river to the lagoons, and there was hundreds of blacks; but these two beauties had heard me coming, and was planted in the reeds, and the other blacks, of course, they says, 'No more' when I arst them.

I chased them down to the lagoons where many Aboriginal people were camped, but the two women had hidden in the reeds, and the others denied knowing where they were.

_Considine describes pursuing his Aboriginal companions after they ran away._

> I married her under the name of Keogh, though. Will that make any difference?

I used the name Keogh when I married her. Does that affect the legality?

_Considine questions the validity of his marriage due to using a false name._

> I'm alive all right, I believe. But look, Mister—you aren't trying to take the loan of me? Is this straight?

I'm definitely alive. But are you sure you're not playing a trick on me? Is this genuine?

_Considine expresses disbelief at the news of his inheritance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters/xvii-considine
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/an_outback_marriage_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/an_outback_marriage_se/chapters