the top of the garden wall. Harriett and I had such a beautiful race
round that garden, and they looked on so terrified."

"They could take the shine out of you at lessons, however," said Mr.
Brandon, "and I won't take you there again to have another such
spirited race till I hear satisfactory accounts of you from Miss
Melville."

"Oh! the race was well enough, but the visit was very slow upon the
whole, so I don't think I will break my heart if I never see the place
again. Harriett may try to deserve it, but I will not take the trouble."

"I hate books," said Miss Harriett, "except picture books, and the
fairy tales papa reads to us."

"You must not mind what they say, Miss Melville," said Mr. Phillips.

"I do not intend to do so. I hope to make them like their lessons by
and by, and in the meantime they must learn them whether they like them
or not."

"You would be astonished, Lily," said Mr. Phillips, addressing his
wife, "to see what a clever, intelligent family of nephews and nieces
Peggy has got. Miss Melville has been good enough to give them some
extra instruction, and they certainly have profited by it; but even
without that, Peggy has given them every advantage that she possibly
could."

"Oh! Peggy had always very uppish notions," said Mrs. Phillips, "it
will be a pity if she educates these children above their position."

"No one knows what position they may not take with such abilities and
education in such a colony as Victoria. I may have to stand cap in hand
to Tom Lowrie yet," said Mr. Phillips.

"You, Stanley!" said his wife; "you are so fond of saying absurd
things."

"Don't you know the insecurity of runs? And who knows but Tom may be
Prime Minister or Commissioner of Public Lands or Public Works, or the
chief engineer on a new railway, that may go right through my squatting
rights? My dear Lily, I have a respect for incipient greatness, and
when I stood among these young people, I felt they would be rising when
I was perhaps falling."

"Were these your motives?" said Mr. Brandon, laughing. "I admired the
young Lowries for what they were in themselves, and did not go so far
into the future as you. I hope, Emily, that in time, Miss Melville will
make you what Peggy calls keen of your learning, as well as her bairns."

"Did you like learning when you were a little girl?" asked Emily of
Miss Melville.

"Very much, indeed."

"So mamma says, but then she did not have to learn very much. I