ode, in a meditative and embarrassed manner wholly
foreign to his genial open nature.

"See here, Renshaw," he burst forth at last; "we were boys together, and
ought to know each other pretty well by this time. Now, I think you're
a touchy fellow on some subjects--but, hang it all, what I want to say
is this--you've been cursed by ill-luck of late; why not try fresh
ground? Now, if a thousand pounds would--er--pull your train back on to
the rails again, why, there it is, and you've only got to say so. Eh?
What? Obligation, did you say?"--the other having said nothing at all.
"That be hanged! The boot's all on the other foot!"

Renshaw was a sensitive man and a proud one, and Selwood knew it--hence
the latter's embarrassment.

"Chris, you are indeed a friend!" he answered. "I don't know what to
say--"

"Say? Say? Say--`Done with you,' and consider the matter settled,"
fumed Selwood, cutting him short.

"I can't say that, Chris. Just think what a run of ill-luck I have had.
It would be robbing you to borrow on absolutely no security--"

"Ill-luck! Of course you have. So would any fellow who tried to farm
Angoras in Great Bushman-land; and I was nearly saying--he'd deserve
it," cried Selwood, testily. "It would be different down here, with
decent land and decent seasons. And there isn't a better farmer in this
colony than yourself!"

"Don't think me ungracious," said Renshaw, deprecatorily. "As you were
saying, Chris, we have known each other all our lives, and ought to be
able to speak out to each other. What I was going to say is this: Your
offer is that of a true and generous friend; but were I to accept it, I
should be robbing you, for I can't give you a hundred pounds' worth of
security."

"But I do think you ungracious," fumed the other. "Robbing me!
Security! Tut-tut-tut! Why, old fellow, you needn't be so punctilious.
Remember, you would probably have effected the sale of your place to
that speculator chap in Fort Lamport the other day, but for starting off
home on the spur of the moment, to protect Hilda and the rest of them
against those cut-throats. And one doesn't like to think what might
have happened to them but for you," he added, very gravely.

Now, this was a most unfortunate allusion, for, needless to say wholly
unwittingly, Selwood had thereby imported a "compensation" element into
his generous offer--at least, so it seemed to the other's sensitive
pride. And while acquitti