. Alice looks quite a different person now she has a house of
her own. I don't call her pretty--I never did; but she looks very well
indeed at Barragong, and seems to get on wonderful well, considering."

"Considering what?" was about to come from Jane's lips, for she had
never liked Miss Phillips's condescending way of talking about her
sister; but she checked herself, for it was no use to argue with the
bride on the eve of her wedding-day, and gave an indifferent and
conciliatory reply; but the conversation was here interrupted by the
entrance of two old friends, not any of the party invited for the
morrow, but two large beautiful dogs, who ran up to Jane with the
wildest expressions of canine delight.

"Oh, Nep! oh Flora!" said Jane, "where have you come from? Who can have
brought you here? Poor old fellows! dear old fellows!" And the
favourites from Cross Hall laid their happy heads in her lap, and
rejoiced in their old mistress's caresses.

"What beauties!" said Miss Phillips; "but I do not like dogs in the
drawing-room."

"I will take them out," said Jane, trembling with wonder and agitation.
She went out of the room, and at the hall door, which stood (bush
fashion) hospitably open, she saw Francis standing, allowing Nep and
Flora, who seemed to know there was a friend in the house, to make an
entrance and introduce themselves. She extended her hand, but he
clasped her in his arms.

"Not farewell this time, dearest Jane. I have come for you, and I will
not be refused. When we parted I said you knew I loved you, and now I
believe you love me. I have given up everything--the property, the seat
in Parliament; and now that I have no career to relinquish, perhaps you
will acknowledge that you love me?"

"Oh, Francis, I have always loved you! but I could have lived without
you all my life if I had thought it for your good and your happiness. I
could not bear to be your stumbling-block. But is it really the case?
did you believe that strange story? have you given up what you made
such good use of?"

"Come out into the garden with me, and I will tell you all about it;"
and Francis led Jane where they were more secure from interruption.
Flora and Nep followed them in the greatest exuberance of spirits.

"I had to stay one day in Melbourne, and found that I could get a
situation there as accountant in a merchant's office, at 300 pounds to
begin with. I had Mr. Rennie's testimonial to speak for me. It is not
so muc