epting it, but Minnie Stevenson,
whose school-days lay behind her too, was going down before Christmas
and declared she could not be without Dot longer than the middle of
February.

And Mona--Mona, her nearest and dearest friend, said it was _very_ hot
on the Richmond River till the end of March, but April was a perfect
month there, and in April she would take _no_ refusal. She must have
Thea in her own home all to herself then.

Nellie Harden had her mother's consent to ask Dot to "come out" with
her. The debut was to take place in June, at a big ball, and Nellie had
"set her heart" on Thea and herself coming out at the _very_ same ball,
on the _very_ same night as each other, "All in white, you know, Thea
darling, and we _will_ look so nice."

So it will be seen Dot's idea of being elder sister and home daughter
had every chance of remaining an idea for the present. With such
alluring pleasures, where was there room for duty?

"I'll do my best _every_ time I am at home," said Dot to herself,
weighing pleasure and duty in the balance and finding duty sadly
wanting, "and I'll _write_ Betty good letters of advice, and take some
mending away with me to do."

But all that belonged to yesterday.

To-day Dot was at home, and in the important position of being about to
set out upon a journey. She was to start early in the morning and to go
direct to the Redfern railway station.

Mr. Bruce had gone to town to draw a five guinea cheque for his eldest
daughter. He also had to do a little shopping on her account. All his
instructions were written down in Dot's fair round hand-writing upon a
piece of foreign notepaper and slipped into his waistcoat pocket.

For those who are at all curious to know what the items were we will
steal a look at the paper--

1. Pair of white canvas shoes, size 2.

2. One cake of blanco (for cleaning them with).

3. Two pairs of black silk _shoe_ laces--not boot laces--(all of
those things at the same shop).

4. 1-1/4 yds. of _white_ chiffon (_very_ thin--for a veil).

5. 1 bunch of scarlet poppies--just common ones (both of these
at same shop--draper's).

6. _At a chemist's_: sponge (6_d._), tooth-brush (9_d._),
Packet of violet powder (6_d._).

Mrs. Bruce was letting down Dot's dresses, and altering a pretty blue
silk evening blouse (bought ready made). Cyril had cleaned her shoes and
the family portmanteau, an ugly black thing, and run half a doz