g in your expressions," said Hal, going to
him.

"Stay, Mr. Morris," said May, rising. "You are quite right in every word
you have said about me. It is quite enough to convince me you are in
earnest and, to show my belief I will read that letter."

Reg passed it to her, without a word, and she read aloud:

"Melbourne,
"Sunday.

"My own darling Wyck,

"Your poor little Kitty is crying and fretting for you; come back
to her, my darling. I received your last letter, and roared over
the contents. What fun you must have had with that old chap Goody,
and his daughter. I would have given anything to have seen the old
fellow lying on the deck yelling. But I say, my darling, I'm not
jealous, but I did not like the other part of it. What a hussey the
daughter must be! You say you are going to take her yachting, and
that's she's a proud sort. I guess she won't be so proud when she
comes back. You are a terror for girls, but I won't be jealous, as
I know you only love me. But be quick and come back. I forgot to
say that two fellows looking like toffs have been enquiring for
you, and from what I can learn they don't mean you any good. They
tried to pump Dick, and he sent you a wire, which you will have had
long ago. My dear boy, do be careful. I am rather busy, but your
little wife sends you hundreds of kisses. Good-bye, my own darling,

"Your ever loving
"KITTY HARRIS."

May read the letter through calmly, without a tremor in her voice. There
was a supercilious curl of contempt on her lips as she finished. She
gave vent to neither grief nor rage, for she was made of sterner stuff
than those of her sex who faint and give way under stress of
disappointment. A change had come over her whole being, one of those
subtle changes that a moment of crisis can produce. The fickle,
light-hearted girl had disappeared, the injured woman came to the front.
There is this peculiarity about Australian girls. Outsiders consider
them empty-headed and frivolous, for they have a light, lackadaisical
manner of spending their lives, but lying dormant beneath is a nature
with a purpose which once roused is relentless in its desire for
exacting satisfaction. May Goodchild was a typical daughter of her land.
She had given her heart honestly and wholly to the man she loved; she
found he had accepted it only to trifle with it and dishonour