but, perhaps, the poor
fellows really liked the place. At any rate, almost all of them
returned, though Victoria appeared to be by far the most prosperous
colony. But I made an excellent colonist, in spite of my never becoming
much attached to the place. I adapted myself to sheep wonderfully, and
to black pipes and cabbage-tree hats, and all the other amenities of
bush life; and now, Miss Rennie, will you be good enough to adapt
yourself to me for a quadrille?"

Miss Rennie was not engaged, so she could not refuse. Elsie saw that
her cousin wished to talk to her; she feared it was to be on the
subject which was the most painful of all--her unfortunate poems. She
fancied that he must think her presumptuous in her old ambition, and
dreaded his condolences; so she made some pretext to move away out of
hearing of his conversation with Jane, and stood by the hired
musicians, who were the most unlikely persons in the room to know
anything about her or her disappointment. Standing there, with her
slight and graceful form stooping slightly, and her face cast down,
Miss Rennie again pointed her out to Mr. Brandon, of whose dancing she
was tired, and to whom she wished to talk, asking him if he did not
think her a lovely creature, and explaining the very peculiar
circumstances in which the two girls were placed.

"They have been well educated, papa says, but very peculiarly, so that
their prospects are not the better for it. We live in a frivolous age,
Mr. Brandon. I do not take much interest in Jane, but Elsie is a very
sweet girl."

The Australian settler looked again more closely at Elsie, and
acknowledged to himself, as well as to Miss Rennie, that she was
certainly elegant.

"Shall we go to her now? she looks so deserted, Mr. Brandon. Oh! Mr.
Malcolm, I must introduce you to Miss Melville's sister."

"And co-heiress in misfortune," said the young lawyer, shrugging his
shoulder.

"She is lovely--come," said Miss Rennie. She took both gentlemen across
the room. Elsie started when she saw them coming close up to her.

"Miss Alice Melville--Mr. Malcolm--a successful author. Your sister saw
him here some months ago."

The sight of a successful author was rather too much for Elsie's
present feelings. Her eyes filled with tears, but yet she must speak.

"Yes, Jane told me she had that pleasure," said she.

"Miss Melville is here also, I hope," said Mr. Malcolm.

"Yes, she is talking to--to Mr. Hogarth."

"To Mr. Ho