inions.

Lilith Gordon had bragged: "My uncle's promised me a gold watch and
chain when I pass matric."

Lucy of Toorak laughed: her nose came down, and her mouth went up at
the corners. "Do you think you ever will?"

"G. o. k. and He won't tell. But I'll probably get the watch all the
same."

"Where does your uncle hang out?"

"Brisbane."

"Sure he can afford to buy it?"

"Of course he can."

"What is he?"

Lilith was unlucky enough to hesitate, ever so slightly. "Oh, he's got
plenty of money," she asserted.

"She doesn't like to say what he is!"

"I don't care whether I say it or not."

"A butcher, p'raps, or an undertaker?"

"A butcher! He's got the biggest newspaper in Brisbane!"

"A newspaper! Great Scott! Her uncle keeps a newspaper!"

There was a burst of laughter from those standing round.

Lilith was scarlet now. "It's nothing to be ashamed of," she said
angrily.

But Lucy of Toorak could not recover from her amusement. "An uncle who
keeps a newspaper! A newspaper! Well, I'm glad none of MY uncles are so
rummy.--I say, does he leave it at front doors himself in the morning?"

Laura had at first looked passively on, well pleased to see another
than herself the butt of young Lucy's wit. But at this stage of her
existence she was too intent on currying favour, to side with any but
the stronger party. And so she joined in the boisterous mirth Lilith's
admission and Lucy's reception of it excited, and flung her gibes with
the rest.

She was pulled up short by a hissing in her ear. "If you say one word
more, I'll tell about the embroidery!"

Laura went pale with fright: she had been in good spirits that day, and
had quite forgotten her silly confidence of the night before. Now, the
jeer that was on the tip of her tongue hung fire. She could not all at
once obliterate her smile--that would have been noticeable; but it grew
weaker, stiffer and more unnatural, then gradually faded away, leaving
her with a very solemn little face.

From this night on, Lilith Gordon represented a powder-mine, which
might explode at any minute.--And she herself had laid the train!

From the outset, Laura had been accepted, socially, by even the most
exclusive, as one of themselves; and this, in spite of her niggardly
allowance, her ridiculous clothes. For the child had race in her: in a
well-set head, in good hands and feet and ears. Her nose, too, had a
very pronounced droop, which could stand only for blue b