inually dwelling on the means
by which he may regain it."

The greater number of the passengers were eager to set off immediately
for the diggings; and every vehicle to be found was secured at a high
price, many giving promises of breaking down before half the journey was
performed. Many talked of trudging it on foot; and of these, several of
them never reached their destination, having either lost their way and
died from fatigue and starvation in the bush, or being drowned when
crossing some river, by being carried down by the current. The lions of
Sydney were soon visited; and James, with his two sisters and young
brother, set off in high spirits for Warragong. He had a lightly-built
covered waggon, with strong springs--the best style of vehicle for
travelling in the bush. The journey was performed, if not rapidly, yet
with great ease and comfort; and there were so many objects of interest,
all new to the strangers--the birds, beasts, reptiles, and scenery, the
very look of the people, and the characters they met--that no one was
weary. As may be supposed, they called at Prentiss Town on their way,
and, of course, spent a few days there; and, naturally, Arthur arrived
to escort them home. The daughters of the English farmer had been more
practically brought up than the Australian young ladies, educated in a
school in Sydney. They could teach them much connected with the dairy
and numerous household duties, of which they had never heard. Not that
the Miss Gilpins were, in the slightest degree, less refined or less
educated than their new friends. Of course, the visit was to be
returned; there was some joking, however, on that subject, which a
stranger might not very clearly have understood. On the road, the party
were met by Craven, well mounted, and dressed in the most approved
fashion. He came, as in duty bound, to escort his friends' sisters to
their new abode.

"And is this the hut you spoke of, dear brothers?" exclaimed the
sisters, in the same voice. "What a delightful house! And this room,
the very model of the dear old parlour. We are sure you intended it."

And Jane and Susan kissed their brothers, who were more than amply
repaid by the happiness they felt for the years of toil they had
endured, and all the exertions they had made to get the house ready.
They had an idea that those sisters would not remain long under their
roof, sorry though they would be to lose them; that is to say, not if
t