, and perhaps impossible, person whom she was
to fancy as his wife, but a really pretty and amiable girl, did the
thought now give her pain or awaken any sharp pang of jealousy? Her
heart filled with many emotions at the thought, agitating and painful
enough, but there was no jealousy. The more she fancied that Francis
could love her, the more Jane felt that she must love her too.

"I really half envy you, Miss Melville," said Mary. "I wish I could do
something for myself. You cannot think how anxiously I watched and
wondered how you and your sister got on, and how delighted I was when
you got the situation with Mrs. Phillips. Your cousin too--it must have
been a sad weight off his mind. A generous man like him must have felt
the terms on which he got the property very cruel."

"Yes," said Jane, "I know he felt it very much. We have great cause to
thank God that things have turned out so well as they have done."

"Well, Miss Melville, do you know I feel quite ashamed to think of the
amount of money which our family has cost Aunt Margaret; and after all
she has spent on my education, and I really did try my best to learn
too, I feel almost guilty in looking for a situation. There are so many
wanting employment, that it seems like taking bread out of their
mouths; and here am I, a full-grown woman, dependent on other people
for mine. There are four girls of us, and only Grace at school now, but
yet none of us are doing anything for ourselves. I spoke to Aunt
Margaret about taking a situation, but she said she must have me at
Allendale for the winter, on account of Archie and Maggie. After that
is over, I may speak of it again. You are going to Melbourne, where I
have got a brother doing pretty well; but one does not like to be
dependent even on a brother. If you think there is any opening there
for us, will you let us know through your cousin? we see him very
often."

"Then you stay at Allendale for all this winter?" said Jane.

"Yes, and it will be very pleasant. I like living with Aunt Margaret so
much, and John and I were always the two who drew together most of the
family; and then Mr. Sinclair is the dearest old gentleman in the
world."

"My cousin seems to be a favourite of your aunt's," said Jane.

"I never saw aunt take to any one at once as she did to him. What a
pity your uncle did not take him home; it would have added very much to
his happiness and to yours."

It was not like the parting of strangers