All That Swagger by Miles Franklin — Read

The best of the Delacys may have gone in old Nullah-Mundoey. The most impressive remained in Robert, whom the astute Wong Foo had early elected as head of the family. With rare exceptions, all stations were centres of sociability and hospitality, but Burrabinga was known as the most hospitable of its region. The Delacy personality gave that hospitality charm. If Harry was a misplaced _file-seanachie_ of the time of the _Ard-Righs_, or High Kings in Erin, the Delacys in general were reincarnated _brughaids_, those honoured officials of hospitality, of whom it was written that they warned off no person of whatever shape, that no company was refused, and no account kept by the hosts against any person, no matter how often he came.

William continued to rage at the madness of such unbridled hospitality. Both Margaret and Robert were generous and careless. The family grew up more so, in keeping with the increasing availability of commodities. Putting the brake on became impossible.