ou did. You would have
been a wealthy woman if you had stayed. There's Powell--was he married
before you went?"

"Ay, he was. I heard word of it in Melbourne."

"Well, he's as flourishing as possible; he will soon be richer than me.
On his own account now. Bought a flock and run, for an old song; cured
the sheep; and is now on the highway to wealth. Ah! Peggy, why were you
not Mrs Powell?"

"It was not to be," said Peggy, calmly; "but has he any bairns?"

"Two, Peggy; and he is very proud of them."

"Ay, ay; a man has need to be proud and pleased with his own. And the
wife?"

"Oh, she's a nice enough person. Getting a little uppish now; but not
the manager you are," said Mr. Brandon. "More given to dress and show,
and that sort of thing. But I have a message for you from Mr. Talbot,
the lawyer, you know, though I dare say he has written to you on the
same subject."

"My man of business," said Peggy, with a little pride. "I have not
heard from him for a long time."

"He is very sorry indeed, that you let the tenant have a right of
purchase to your shop."

"Oh, it is not of much consequence--he never was a saving body; I don't
think he will ever raise the 250 pounds."

"Will he not?--when the place is worth 2,500 pounds now; if he borrows
the money, he will carry out the purchase, and thus you lose the chance
of making a little fortune. He, of course, will keep it on till the end
of the lease, at the low rent he has it at, and then take it up for the
price specified. You cannot think how vexed I felt to hear you had let
this property slip through your fingers."

"It is a pity," said Peggy. "It would really have been a providing for
the bairns; but they must just provide for themselves. I am, at least,
putting them in the way of doing it. The rent comes in regular enough,
and is a help; and the 250 pounds will come in some time, and set us up
in some way of doing."

"250 pounds is not the sum it used to be," said Mr. Brandon; "but, in
your hands, I have no doubt it will be turned to good account."

"Here come the bairns now," said Peggy, as the quick, noisy steps of
the heavily-shod children were heard clattering up the stairs.

"I will now see what you have made so many sacrifices for. Name them as
they come in."

"Tom, Jamie, Nancy, Jessie, Willie."

"A fine lot of youngsters, upon my word, and sure to make good
colonists." And, as he said this, Mr. Brandon saw a tear stand in the
eye of the devoted