rtyr of herself, and to sit up for the young ladies, who had
not been home all day, and with a piece of mending in her hands, which
got on but slowly, she mused on her ill luck. Very tired and sleepy,
and a little out of humour, she was when she opened the door for Jane
and Elsie.

"Well, well! I just hope you're the better of your late hours, though
they are not just what I approve of."

"Only once in a way, Peggy; our holiday will soon be over. But you
should not have sat up for us--promise not to do it again. We have
enjoyed the theatre to-night, have we not, Elsie?"

"Yes, but the disenchantment comes so soon again."

"I have no great opinion of theatres and play-acting, and such like. I
was once in a theatre in Melbourne, though," said Peggy.

"With one of your sweethearts, Peggy?" asked Jane.

"Whisht with your nonsense, Miss Jean; don't be talking of sweethearts
to a douce woman like me," said Peggy, who, nevertheless was rather
proud of her Australian conquests, and liked to hear them alluded to
now and then.

"But how did you like the play?"

"I cannot say I did. To see folk dressed up and painted, rampaging
about and talking havers, just making fools of themselves. A wee
insignificant-looking body setting up to be a king! and the sogers--you
should have seen the sogers, as if they could ever fight."

"It is likely there was nothing very first-rate on the Melbourne boards
at that time, but our play to-night was perfectly well got up," said
Elsie, "and the acting was admirable."

"I'm no clear that at its best the theatre is a fit place for Christian
men and women to frequent," said Peggy.

"You prefer the stern realities of life to its most brilliant
illusions," said Jane.

"Speaking of the realities of life, Mr. Brandon says he knows of
something likely to suit you, Miss Jane," said Peggy.

"Indeed!" said Jane, with an incredulous smile.

"At least, he says you must resolve on nothing till you hear from him.
He is going to write to London to Mr. Phillips."

"Your Mr. Phillips--is he in London?"

"Yes; and Mr. Brandon says they are sorely in need of somebody to keep
the house--for I fancy everything is at rack and manger if Mrs.
Phillips has the management--and to make Emily and Harriett mind their
books, for they are such spoiled bairns. I was showing Mr. Brandon what
you could do with Tam and Nancy and the others, and he says you are
exactly the person that they need; and I can see that it