ditatively.

"Very," said her friend, who knew that Mrs. Wooler meant to do a little
begging (for church purposes) as soon as opportunity offered.

"It would be a pity for him to be involved with such a--a
forward-looking young person," she said charitably.

But for the first quarter of an hour she had no opportunity of
satisfying her curiosity, for Sheila was quite hungry enough not to
waste too much time in conversation. At last, however, a chance came,
when Mr. Assheton said in his mincing voice--

"I believe, Miss Carolan, that like me, you are quite a new arrival in
this country."

"Oh, dear no! I have lived here ever since I was two years old."

"Heah! in Townsville?"

"I meant Australia," Sheila observed placidly.

"Then you are not an Australian born, Miss Carolan?" put in Mrs. Wooler
with a peculiarly irritating condescension of manner and surprised
tone, as if she meant to say, "I am sure you are--you certainly are not
lady-like enough to be an English girl."

"No, I am not," was the reply. "Do you think you will like Queensland,
Mr. Assheton?"

"I really have as yet formed no definite impression. Possibly I may in
the end contrive to like it."

"Do. It would be a great pity for the country if you did not," said
Sheila gravely, without moving an eyelid.

"Do you purpose making a long stay in Queensland, Miss Carolan?" pursued
Mrs. Wooler.

"A very long one, perhaps--perhaps on the other hand a very short one.
Or it may be that I may adopt a middle course, and do neither."

Grainger, who was opposite, heard her, and as she looked across at him,
he saw that she was "playing" her questioner and quite enjoying it.

Never for one moment did the clergyman's wife dream that Sheila meant
to be anything else but evasive, so she followed up. To her mind it
was absolutely incredible that any woman would dare to snub her--Mrs.
Wooler--daughter of a dean, and possessing an uncle who had on several
occasions been spoken of by the Bishop of Dullington as his probable
successor; such a thing was impossible!

"I presume, however, that your stay in Townsville itself will be short,
Miss Carolan? You will find it a very expensive place--especially if you
have no friends to whom you can go."

Sheila's face flushed. Her blood was getting up, and Myra looked at her
nervously.

"Is there no 'Girls' Friendly Society,' 'Young Women's Christian
Association,' or other kindred institution, where I could 'be taken in