to stay."

The Bushman looked a little startled, and his lips formed into a whistle
of astonishment, which Nettie's resolute little face kept inaudible.
"Taken your fancy very much, eh, Miss Nettie?" said the jocular savage,
who fancied raillery of one kind or other the proper style of conversation
to address to a young lady. Nettie gave that big hero a flashing sudden
glance which silenced him. Mr Chatham once more formed an inaudible
whew! with his lips, and looked at Mrs Fred.

"But _your_ heart inclines to the old colony, Miss Susan?--I beg your
pardon--didn't remember what I was saying at that moment. Somehow you
look so much as you used to do, barring the cap," said the Australian,
"that one forgets all that has happened. You incline to cross the seas
again, Mrs Rider, without thinking of the expense?--and very sensible
too. There never was a place like this blessed old country for swallowing
up a man's money. You'll save as much in a year in the colony as will
take you across."

"That is what I always say;--but of course my wishes are little thought
of," said Mrs Fred, with a sigh; "of course it's Nettie we have to look
to now. If she does not choose, to be sure, it does not matter what I
wish. Ah! if I don't look different, I feel different--things are
changed _now_."

The Bushman gave a puzzled glance, first at one sister and then at the
other. It occurred to him that Fred had not been so much of a strength
and protection to his family as this speech implied, and that Nettie had
been the person whom Mrs Rider had to "look to" even before they left
that colony for which she now sighed. But Mrs Fred, in her sorrow and
her white cap, was an interesting figure to the eyes which were not much
accustomed to look upon womankind. He had no doubt hers was a hard case.
Nettie sat opposite, very busy, silent, and resolute, flashing dangerous
sudden glances occasionally at her languid sister and their big visitor.
It was confusing to meet those brilliant impatient wrathful eyes; though
they were wonderfully bright, they put out the wild man of the woods,
and made him feel uncomfortable. He turned with relief to those milder
orbs which Mrs Fred buried in her handkerchief. Poor little oppressed
woman, dependent upon that little arbitrary sister! The sincerest pity
awoke in the Bushman's heart.

"Well!" he said, good-humouredly, "I hope you'll come to be of one mind
when Miss Nettie thinks it over again; and you have on