lassies--Emily
used to be like the apple of his eye; and the mistress is too lazy to
cross them either, I'm thinking," said Peggy.

"Just so. If Miss Melville's preaching in season or out of season can
give her a little more sense, I think Phillips will be all the better
for it. She can keep house, admirably, you say; and that she is able to
teach, these children's books testify. Tell Miss Melville to delay her
resolution about the dressmaking till I communicate with Phillips,
which I will do by to-day's post. He is talking of coming up to the
north shortly, principally to visit you, I think, so he may see her,
and can judge for himself. Your account of the young lady seems
everything that can be desired, and Mr. Phillips has such a high
opinion of your judgment that your recommendation will carry great
weight."

"He'll bring Emily with him to see me," said Peggy. "Tell him to be
sure and bring Emily with him. I cannot ask you to take pot-luck with
us."

"No, I thank you; I have just breakfasted. I do not keep such early
hours as I did at Barragong. We turn night into day in these lands of
civilization, and for a change it is remarkably pleasant. But how do
you take to Scotch fare after Australia?" asked Mr. Brandon, eyeing
with astonishment the infinitesimal piece of meat which made the family
broth.

"I did not take quite kindly to the porridge at first, and missed the
meat that we used to have in such abundance; but use is second nature,
and though I whiles look back with regret to the flesh-pots of Egypt, I
have my strength, and I have some prospect of getting back to the land
of wastrie and extravagance, as I aye used to say it was at Barragong;
and Mr. Phillips's place, at Wiriwilta, was worse still. And Mr.
Phillips has made his fortune with all that waste, and with all his
liberality, and a foolish wife, and an expensive family, and is living
in London like a gentleman as he is," said Peggy. "And you really think
he would be glad to have Miss Jean?"

"I have not a doubt of it; but good-bye for the present. I hear your
youngsters rattling upstairs. I will see you again ere long, and must
get better acquainted with them. Good-bye, sir," said Mr. Brandon, to
Thomas Lowrie, who having never been called either Mr. or Sir in his
life before, was lost in astonishment at the remarkably fine manners of
Peggy's old master.

"A very civil-spoken gentleman, Peggy," said he. "It must have been a
pleasure to serve a