separated, and when we started on our return
journey from Melbourne, where we had been on a visit, I little thought
what was before me." Here the heart-broken old man again broke down.

"Come, come, bear up, sir. Don't give way," said Hal, comforting him.

"My dear lad. I am a rich man, and would willingly lay down twenty
thousand pounds to have my girl back in her old place beside me."

"And so you shall, sir," said Hal, reassuringly.

"How?" asked he.

"First tell me all that occurred after your arrival."

"Well I took good care that that scoundrel should not see her again
after breakfast, and when we got ashore we drove in a closed carriage to
the station, and came on here."

"Well, what then?"

"She became very sulky, would not talk, and shut herself up; neglected
her pets, and all her favourite occupations; avoided me as much as she
could. I tried to coax her. I tried everything I knew, but to no avail.
She seemed to have forgotten me, and to think of no one but that fellow,
and I have since found out that he followed her here and twice met her
clandestinely."

"I can quite understand that. It's his infernal mesmeric business."

"Yes, I guessed things were not all straight, but I was completely
powerless, and yesterday she had a letter from him, from Hobart."

"Hobart! How did you know it was from him?" asked Hal, with excitement.

"She told me so, and she said she was going to meet him."

"What did you say?"

"What could I? When I offered to go with her, she told me straight out,
in a manner she had never used to me before, that she was going alone.
At that I lost my temper, and I said--go. And she left by last night's
express."

"Do you know what time the next train passes?" asked Hal.

"Yes, there will be one in half-an-hour. Why?"

"Never mind why, but get a few things together, and be ready to go by
it."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that if your daughter sees him, it will be too late."

"I understand," he said, and lost no time in doing as he was bidden.

The private signal was hoisted at the siding, and the train stopping,
they both got in. As it passed the next station Hal threw out a note,
with half-a-crown wrapped inside it, asking the station-master to
forward a telegram to Reg to meet them at Launceston station.

"This is my friend Morris, Mr. Goodchild," said Hal, introducing Reg,
whom they found waiting for them; and ten minutes later, by special
arrangement with his highnes