In novella A Thing of Nought, Hilda Vaughan returns hauntingly to the theme of lovers parted by the world. Megan Lloyd's handsome lover Penry Price departs for Australia, to find work and build them a home, but is thwarted at every turn by drought, poverty and illness, and finally begs her to think of him as dead. Heartbroken and lonely, Megan succumbs to the attentions of strong-minded preacher Rees Lloyd, but is just married when an unexpected face returns.