my fears.

"So that 's his little game, is it?" he said. "Well, I always knew he
was a pretty bad lot, but I hardly thought he'd descend to that. Let him
feed her. The little corn they dare smuggle into the mare won't make any
difference in the end. So cheer up, my little girl. Only a week more now
and then we 'll see."

That week, that week, my last week of happiness, and to think I wished
it over! Oh! Hope, Hope! never wish the time gone child! you may be
wishing away the last happy days of your life, as I did!

Every day now I saw Paul, every day we met at the camp where was
Boatman, and after seeing he was all right wandered away into the
gullies together. I could not help being anxious, very anxious, and as
the time grew nearer it grew worse to bear; but still it was a happy
time with Paul by my side, with his strong arm to lean on, with his kind
face so near to my own. I wonder why one's happy days in this world are
so brief. It has often seemed to me the arrangements of Providence are a
little hard.

We always managed to have three days' racing at Yanyilla, and all the
country side for miles round gave itself up to the delights of racing;
and of course that meant a week's dissipation, just like "cup week" in
Melbourne now. The last day was always an off-day--an afterthought--not
arranged for in the original programme; I don't know exactly for what
reason they held it, except that they thought it a pity not to make out
the week. I fancy the races on the last day were very poor affairs, only
got up because the men had got the racing fever on them, and wanted to
bet on something; but I ought not to say much, for I really don't know.
My interest in racing came to an end for ever that first day, and I
have never seen a race run since, and never shall in this world. I don't
suppose they ever have races in the next.

The eventful day came at last, the first Tuesday in November, the day
that would be "cup day" now-a-days. Monday was an exciting day for us.
The stewards came out and saw to the preparing of the racecourse,
which was ordinarily simply a piece of flat paddock close to Yanyilla
homestead, and it seemed the entire population of the township
accompanied them, to see that it was properly done, I suppose, and not
only the entire population of the township, but of all the district
round I think. My father was in his glory. He was a most hospitable man,
and everyone he came across he asked up to the house, reg