I can't say he does not deserve it," she added, stopped from
further remark by Reg's determined face.

"Well, it is understood that we all meet this afternoon at Government
House," said Hal. "We will now adjourn the meeting."

Hil and May had already refused the invitations to the party, but a
private note despatched to the Secretary had the desired effect, as that
gentleman held a very high opinion of Hil and her fortune.

Government House is a palatial residence, and situated in the midst of
lovely gardens. It was the height of the season, and a large number of
people were assembled in the grounds, including a good proportion of
mammas, each with a bevy of daughters. At the appointed time Hil's
carriage drove into the grounds, followed by a cab, and the occupants of
both were set down to be presented to His Excellency, who stood with a
forced, dignified smile on his face, and bowed to each visitor with the
accurate regularity of a machine. Close observers only would notice that
the smile was supercilious and the bow perfunctory. Both the girls and
boys, as a matter of form, passed before him and then wandered together
round the grounds. They did not wander far before they came across the
bishop's son, who was paying elaborate attention to the daughter of a
squatter who could count his sheep by millions. With ill-concealed
satisfaction, her fond mother watched her daughter's flirtation with one
of England's nobility, as she supposed him to be. Further on, they met
their man, evidently in the full swing of enjoyment. He was talking to a
young English lady with whom he was seated under a spreading eucalyptus,
and satirising colonial manners. The lady herself was on the look-out
for a colonial millionaire and often sighed to herself over the
disagreeable necessity that the millions could not be obtained without
the millionaire.

Seats had been placed on both sides of the tree, and Philamore and his
companion were quite unaware that the seat at their back was occupied,
until the former was startled by hearing a familiar voice say:

"It's Wyck for a certainty. We shall have to waylay him."

"It's a matter of time, Mr. Morris. Do not distress yourself so much.
We'll catch him before long."

Peering round, he saw May and Reg were the speakers, and a longing to
get out of the way seized him. He took the earliest opportunity of
excusing himself and calling a cab drove rapidly into the town, to the
same restaurant into wh