nds of yours," she answered,
smiling.

"You'll find them true Australian girls, and I venture to say you will
be good friends."

"Well, I shall be at home all this afternoon."

"If I can, then, I'll bring them to you," said Reg, taking his leave,
and setting out at once for Blue Gums. His arrival alone caused some
enquiries.

"Where's Mr. Winter?" asked Hil.

"He's gone to Toowoomba."

"Toowoomba! What for?"

"Well, to tell the truth, we are not satisfied that Wyck is really dead,
and Hal has gone to enquire at the hotel he stopped at and interview
Bill Adams; but mind, to anyone else, he has gone to Albury for a couple
of days."

"I see," said Hil.

"Do you know," asked May, "that Mr. Philamore has lately been in
Queensland?"

"No. Is that so?"

"Well he started telling us a story about camp-life, and suddenly
stopped and, though we both tried to persuade him to continue, he would
not."

"And what do you make of that?"

"Nothing, except it seemed curious, considering he has only just come
out from England."

"I have just left Mrs. Montague. Will you ladies go and call on her? She
expressed a wish to make your acquaintance."

"When?"

"Well, she's at home this afternoon."

"We'd go if we only had an escort."

"Won't I do, Miss Goodchild?"

"If you will honour us," she said, with a mock curtsey.

"And we will both go and put on our brand-new dresses in honour of the
occasion," said Hil, following May from the room.

Reg sat down and fell into a brown study. His lost Amy held the first
place in his thoughts, but unconsciously of late he had found the form
of May Goodchild, not usurping the image of his dead love, but appearing
as it were by her side. He did not know whether to take himself to task
for want of loyalty, but in the midst of his cogitations he was
interrupted by the return of the ladies, costumed in the latest fashion.

"Understand," said Hil, as they walked out to the carriage, "You are to
be our chaperon, and keep us in order."

"Trust me, I'll sing out if I see any lapse," he answered, laughing.

Mrs. Montague and the girls became fast friends from the outset, and
when Reg and her husband left for a smoke they became quite
confidential. She told them all her experiences and how Reg had come to
her rescue.

"You see, here I am with a husband who worships me; a successful career;
my sisters at school and well cared-for, and wherever I go I am so well
received; and all thi