_love_ the kid already. She has Mary's eyes and Mary's voice,
and, _if you_ don't want her _I_ do. When will breakfast be ready, old
girl?"

"Eight o'clock," said Mrs Westonley faintly, wondering if she were
awake or dreaming. Who but this handsome, sunburnt brother would dare to
lecture her, and then wind up by addressing her as "old girl"!

CHAPTER II

When Captain Richard Gerrard--the father of Mrs Westonley--came to
Australia from India, he first settled in Gippsland, in Victoria. A
retired military man, with ample means, he devoted himself successfully
to pastoral pursuits, and soon took a leading part in the advancement of
the colony. He had married the daughter of an English chaplain, by whom
he had but one child--Elizabeth--and when she was but an infant of two
years of age, Mrs Gerrard died. For thirteen years her husband remained
faithful to her memory, and then did what all his neighbours regarded
as a very sensible thing--he married the daughter of a neighbouring
squatter, and sent his child to England to be educated. His second
wife was a beautiful, vigorous, and well-trained woman, mentally and
physically, and although her parents were English, she was a native of
the colony, and, naturally enough, took the deepest interest in all that
concerned the station, the advancement of her husband's interests, and
the colony in which she was born. Two children were born to them, a twin
son and daughter, and as time went on, Captain Gerrard's station became
one of the best in Victoria, and the "R over G" brand of cattle brought
"top" prices in the Melbourne market.

After completing her education in England, Elizabeth Gerrard returned
to Australia. She was a remarkably handsome girl, but cold, even to
chilliness, in her manner, especially to her step-mother, for she had
much resented her father's second marriage. The six years she had
spent in England seemed to have entirely changed her character and
disposition, and when soon after her return, Edward Westonley, a young
squatter, who was the owner of Marumbah Downs, fell violently in love
with her pink and white beauty, and she accepted him, even her father,
although he loved her--was secretly pleased.

Marumbah Downs was over a hundred miles from Captain Gerrard's station,
and there Westonley took his bride. He was a cheerful, somewhat careless
man, very "horsey" in his tastes, and fond of good company. Both his
father-in-law and Mrs Gerrard liked him gr