and least of all to his. But, until
he met with a woman to be his wife and helpmate, she rejoiced to feel
that she was first in his heart. When that event took place, as it
ought to do before long, she would of course retire to a second and
inferior position; but it was something to rest in with pleasure, that
if it had been right and expedient, she would never have been displaced.

Sometimes mere possibilities--thoughts of what might have been--give
very precious memories to cheerful tempers; while to those who are of a
sad nature, they only enhance the gloominess of the present. Jane was
not so cowardly as to let Francis see that she regretted anything for
herself, and she proceeded to tell of her handsome salary, and how
small her expenses had been, so that she was saving money; that Alice's
salary would be equal at least to what she had at Mrs. Dunn's; and that
the twenty-four pounds a year which he was allowed to give them was
added to their savings; so that they were really making up a little
hoard to begin business with Peggy when she left Scotland for
Melbourne. She spoke of her money matters with frankness and
confidence, and her cousin could not but see that she had now
reasonable hope of prosperity.

They had had a very long conversation before Elsie came in. She had had
a number of troublesome commissions to execute, and had been detained
beyond expectation, but had acquitted herself to Mrs. Phillips's
satisfaction, and now came in with a little glow of pleasure on her
face to meet her cousin, to feel the warmth of his affectionate
greeting, to have a little talk about books and poetry, to refresh her
for her monotonous and uninteresting daily work. Nothing was said about
the letter Francis had received, and Jane and he seemed desirous to
banish it from their memory.

Chapter VII.

Harriett Phillips Does A Little Bit Of Shopping, Which Is Somewhat
Fatal To Her Projects

Among other purchases which Elsie had made on the day of Francis'
arrival, were the materials for a bonnet for Mrs. Phillips, which she
had chosen, and which, as she was busily engaged in making up, so much
excited Harriett's admiration, that she was seized with a desire to
have one like it immediately, only that hers must be of a different
colour, and a little modified in shape, to suit her different
complexion and contour of face. On the following morning, as she was
going out shopping herself, she asked Elsie to accompany her