his resolution was
like a rock, that he was thoroughly fortified against yielding to his
old temptations, and that he should never again deviate from the
strictest sobriety. Yet he would not sign the pledge, and so put a
check between himself and those circumstances and occasions which might
lead or surprise him into a transgression. He meant to be a total
abstainer at _present_, but he was quite as resolved not to sign the
pledge.

Things were in this state. He had rigidly kept himself to non-
intoxicants for more than a month after the receipt of Mary's note. He
had paid his way and observed a strict economy; he was getting back his
character as a steady and sober man; and many looked on with approbation
and applauded him. There were, however, three at least in the colony
who had but little faith in him as yet; these were Hubert, Mr Oliphant,
and Jacob Poole.

Things were in this state when one morning, as Frank was riding slowly
down Hindley Street, he noticed a man, whose face and whole appearance
seemed very familiar to him, talking to a shopman at his door. Just as
he came opposite, the man turned fully towards him--there could be no
longer any doubt.

"What! Juniper; Juniper Graves--you here!"

"What! Mr Frank, my dear young master! Do I really see you once more?
Ah, how I've longed for this suspicious day; but it's come at last."

"Ah, I see it's just yourself," said Frank, laughing. "Give us your
hand, my good fellow. But what has brought you out here? It looks like
old times in the dear old country seeing you again."

"Why, Mr Frank, the truth's the truth, and it's no use hiding it,
though `self-praise is no accommodation,' as the proverb says. You see,
sir, I couldn't be happy when you was gone. I missed my dear young
master so much. People wondered what was amiss with me, when they found
me, as they often did, in a state of refraction. `Why, Juniper,' they'd
say, `what's amiss? Are you grieving after Mr Frank?' I could only
nod dissent; my heart was too full. But I mustn't be too long, a-
keeping you too, sir, under the vertebral rays of an Australian sun. I
just couldn't stand it no longer--so I gets together my little savings,
pays my own passage, sails across the trackless deep to the southern
atmosphere--and here I am, to take my chance for good fortune or bad
fortune, if I may only now and then have a smile from my dear young
master Mr Frank, and gaze once more on those famil