to find her; so she wished to surprise him, and desired the finest
apartments in the hotel, including a private dining-room; and requested
that when it was known that the ship was coming up the harbor, the rooms
should be elaborately dressed with flowers. She also stipulated that her
husband, on his coming, should be conducted to his apartments without any
knowledge that any one was waiting for him.

Major H., captivated by the little English lady, entered into the full
spirit of the programme and promised that he would personally attend to
the matter.

Grace was transferred to the new rooms, and thereafter had her meals
served in her own dining-room.

Three days later, about one p.m., a message came that the Australian
steamer had at noon been sighted outside the Heads, and was then entering
the Golden Gate.

The flowers were forthcoming; the apartments were swiftly decorated; then
Grace, with the utmost painstaking, robed herself in her richest costume
and seated herself in the private dining-room, with the sliding doors
slightly ajar so that she could look through into the parlor of the suite
without being seen.

The suspense was fearful to her for half an hour. Would he really come?
Separating in London, and he traveling east, would she by coming west
find him? Would he be well? Had he really escaped the African fever and
all the dangers that lurked in the weary stretches of treacherous
billows?

Those were a few of the questions she was asking herself, when, in the
hall, a well-known voice rang out which made her heart bound. It was
saying: "There must be an oversight somewhere. I surely ought to have had
some letters awaiting me."

The door opened, and the hearty voice of Major H. was heard by the
listener. "These are your apartments, Mr. Sedgwick," he said, "and
I trust you will find them pleasant."

Then the other occupant said: "But I do not care for any such rich rooms
as these; any little corner will suffice for me."

"Oh no," said the Major. "Try these quarters for a day or two, and if by
that time you wish to exchange them for others, we will see to it. We try
to please our Australian friends, for we hope for more and more of them
throughout all the years to come."

With that he closed the door.

"Australia!" Grace heard her husband say. "I'm no Australian; I'm a
full-blooded African, a regular Boer or Kaffir, and no mistake. But,
bless my soul, this is a fairy spot! A way-up place, surely!