othing, dad. I was only looking at Mr Knowles going over to Smith's
humpy to look at the new kangaroo pups."

Fraseras eyes twinkled. He guessed what had occurred. "I suppose Charlie
Broome," (the bank manager at Boorala) "will be the next, Kate. I had a
letter from him this morning, saying he would be here to-morrow. You had
one also, I saw."

"Oh, he is concerned about Cockney Smith's account," said Kate serenely;
"that is why he is coming, now that he knows we are going away."

"Exactly," said Fraser, stroking his beard. "It's wonderful the interest
he takes in Cockney Smith--an extraordinary-ordinary interest."

"Father, don't make fun of me--I can't help it. And his letter to me was
so silly that I was ashamed to show it to you--I really was."

"Oh, well, I don't want to see it, my child. I've read too many
love-letters when I was on the Bench--some of them so 'excessively
tender,' as that old ruffian of a Judge Norbury used to say in Ireland,
more than a hundred years ago, that I had to handle them with the
greatest care, for fear they would fall into pieces. Now, who else
is there that is going to solicit your lily-white hand--which isn't
lily-white, but a distinct leather-brown--before we get away? Lacey, I
suppose, will be the next."

"Not he, dad--the dear, sensible old man! He is wedded to his 'rag,'
as he calls the _Clarion_. But, at the same time, I do look forward to
seeing him again, and hearing his beautiful rich brogue--especially when
he is excited."

Gerrard came to the door.

"May I come in?" he asked His eyes were alight with subdued merriment,
as he displayed an open letter. The mailman from Port Denison had just
arrived.

"I have had a letter from my sister, Miss Fraser. She is leaving Sydney
with my niece Mary, and coming to Ocho Rios. That is a bit of good luck
for me, isn't it? And I am sure you and she and Mary will become great
chums. She tells me that "--he hesitated a moment--"that as her
affairs are in such a bad state she would like to come to me. And I
am thunderingly glad of it Of course she doesn't know that Ocho Rios
station has gone--in a way; but by the time she gets to Somerset--three
months from now--she will find a new house, and we'll all be as happy as
sandboys. Now, Miss Fraser, are you ready for an hour or two's fishing?
You'll come too, Fraser?"

"Won't I? Do you think _I_ would miss the last chance of fishing in
Fraser's Creek?" and the big man took down his fis