one.
I'll teach dirty colonials to hunt an English gentleman. Fortunately I
know friends of the different Governors. Fred Philamore will have no
difficulty in getting into Society: an Englishman is a welcome change to
the colonials--at least they always say so. Hurrah, Wyck! Good old Wyck,
you're dead, and good old Fred Philamore stands in your shoes."

With a lighter heart than he had known for many a day, Wyck stepped out
of the train at Sydney.

CHAPTER XXV.

BLUE GUMS.

"Why wasn't I born a boy, Hil? I never felt so comfortable before in my
life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these
abominable petticoats."

"You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been
regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts
a vicious twitch.

"Shall we go to Teasdale's this afternoon?"

"No, don't. I hate garden-parties."

"It's to be a very fashionable affair, and the Government House party
will be there."

"That settles the matter then. We stay away," said Hil, decisively.

When the girls returned to Sydney they found Goody still at the
"Grosvenor," seemingly quite happy. At first he had been feeble and
despondent, but he knew a large number of people, whose visits kept him
from brooding and, on his daughter's return, she found him quite a
Society man in his old-fashioned way. Hil asked him to come out to Blue
Gums, but he preferred the hotel, so both she and May left him there,
perfectly content. Hil found an accumulation of letters and invitations
waiting her arrival. Callers were numerous, who made curious enquiries
about their long absence, but their curiosity was unsatisfied, and it
was generally assumed that Hil had been on a visit to one of her
stations.

"Two gentlemen are below, and wish to see you, miss," said the maid,
entering the room when the girls were engaged in bemoaning their lot.

"Did they give their names?"

"No. I asked, but they said it did not matter."

"Shew them up." Then, turning to May, she said, "I don't mind betting
they're the boys."

"Good-morning, Miss Goodchild," said both Hal and Reg, advancing to May.

"Good-morning, gentlemen. This is my cousin."

"Delighted to meet you," said Hil, shaking hands cordially.

"We called at the 'Grosvenor' this morning, and Mr. Goodchild told us we
should find you here, so we took the liberty of coming over," said Hal.

"No liberty, I assure you. A pleasure."

"On both sid