d happiness seemed to lay
within his easy reach, and by the time that he arrived at his master's
house he had quite decided to accompany his brother back to Australia,
if Ruth would only consent to follow him.

"And she's such a loving, sensible little thing; she wouldn't wish to
stand in my way for a moment, especially when she knows it is for her
own sake I want to go."

So thinking, John let himself in through the garden door, and was not
surprised to find a dark figure, with white cap and apron, standing on
the kitchen doorstep waiting for him.

"You are late, John; cook and Jane have gone to bed."

"Well, Ruthie, I'm glad of that, because if you're not too tired, I want
a chat with you."

Too tired, indeed! When all the evening Ruth had been looking forward to
that few minutes as her ample compensation for the disappointments and
worries she had borne so patiently.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER III.

HOPES AND FEARS.

"HAVE you had a pleasant evening, John?" asked Ruth, after sitting for a
minute or two in silence before the dying embers of the kitchen fire.

"Why, yes, dear, I believe so; but Dick put so many new ideas into my
head that I didn't know how the time passed," replied John, wondering
how he should speak of his new plans to Ruth.

"What sort of ideas, John?"

"He's been talking of Australia, and saying there's no place like it for
getting on in the world, and, of course, he's likely to know; and,
Ruthie, dear, he said if I would go back with him, he'd put me in the
way of making money, and getting a home ready for you in no time."

Ruth took her hand out of John's, and stared fixedly into the fire.

"Can't you say something, Ruth?" asked John, after waiting several
minutes. Ruth breathed hard.

"What do you say, John? Do you want to go?"

"I don't want to leave you, darling, but if you'd promise to come out to
me, I think it would be a good thing for both of us. I could get on so
much better, and we could marry so much quicker than if I plodded on at
the rate I'm going now."

"Then," said Ruth, looking up with a brave smile upon her white face,
"you must go, John, and when you send for me I'll come out to you."

"Bless you, my dear, brave girl, you shall never repent your decision,"
cried John. "I'll work harder than ever, and we'll soon be together
again, never to say good-bye."

But at that dread word, Ruth's composure gave way, and she hid her face.