ng, I am glad it occurred," answered Hal. "It has given us
the pleasure of making your acquaintance."

"New chums, eh?"

"Now, that's not fair. But did that old fellow really recognise us?"

"No, I don't know that he did. Certainly we did not. I only said so
because you were rather hard on us," answered Hil.

"What are you gentlemen going to do now?" asked May.

"We are going to have a holiday. I have done my duty, and my dear old
friend here has sacrificed all his time for me. We propose staying in
Sydney for a short while, and then taking another trip to Tasmania, as
the people there were so nice," answered Reg.

"All Tasmanians are nice," put in May.

"Don't fish, May," said Hil, chaffingly.

"Present company always excepted," said May, unwarily.

"Oh, that's worse than ever," retorted Hil, and all joined in the
laughter which followed.

"Now, if you gentlemen are doing nothing to-day, we shall be very glad
of your company on our drive," said Hil.

"We shall be delighted," said both together.

"Then that's settled. Now let us go to lunch. Quite impromptu, you know,
billy and pannikins," she added, with a light laugh, as she led the way.

And a happy quartette they made, these four young people, sensible to
the full of the enjoyments of life. Joke and anecdote were interchanged
with good-humoured _camaraderie_ and, if Mrs. Grundy was not present,
she ought to have been, only in the capacity of spectator, that she
might but learn how possible it is for youth of both sexes to meet
together in wholesome social enjoyment without the watchful eye of a
chaperon. After luncheon, the boys were invited to light their cigars,
the girls apologising for not joining in, because they had given up male
vices with male habiliments.

"You must come and see Wyck," said Hilda, taking them to the stables.
"And here is old Tom. I don't know if you remember him at Dalby. I
brought him to look after Wyck, because they seem to understand each
other so well."

"How's Wyck getting on, Tom?" she asked, as the old fellow came forward
and saluted.

"Oh, he's doing well, miss. I've had him entered for the Sydney Cup, and
I doubt there won't be many to beat him," said Tom, proudly, as he led
the way to a loose box in which his favourite was kept.

"Well, Wyck, old boy," said Hil, and the horse, hearing her voice,
turned round and put his head over the rail, and sniffed at her as if in
search of something.

"Here you are," she