to laurence he made no reproach directly , but said with excessive heartiness , `` well , one never knows in these cases what may happen , after all ; although , we can not be too slow - riley can give us a little more time , he must wait for something to do with the monsoon , but - although , it is just as well , for there was still no news from england about bligh , so perhaps ... '' and then trailed off in a very awkward way , and began instead to speak of the bunyips .