considerate the dear boy is. I hardly
like to ask you to spare your little girl to me. It must be a great
comfort to have her. I could have got Miss Benson to stay with me, but
Harold will not hear of her. He says she is too slow, and would give us
both the mopes. But he says your little niece will keep us all alive.
Julius was telling me the other day that he could not part with her, as
she makes 'the old barracks', as he always calls Caddagat, echo with fun
and noise. I am so looking forward to seeing her, as she is dear Lucy's
child. Give her my love, etc., etc."

and as a postscript the letter had--"Harold will go up for Sybylla on
Wednesday afternoon. I do hope you will be able to spare her to me for a
while."

"Oh, auntie, how lovely!" I exclaimed. "What are you laughing at?"

"For whom do you think Harry wants the companion? It is nice to have an
old auntie, as a blind, is it not? Well, all is fair in love and war. You
have permission to use me in any way you like."

I pretended to miss her meaning.

Grannie consented to Miss Beecham's proposal, and ere the day arrived I
had a trunk packed with some lovely new dresses, and was looking forward
with great glee to my visit to Five-Bob Downs.

One o'clock on Wednesday afternoon arrived; two o'clock struck, and I was
beginning to fear no one was coming for me, when, turning to look out the
window for the eighteenth time, I saw the straight blunt nose of Harold
Beecham passing. Grannie was serving afternoon tea on the veranda. I did
not want any, so got ready while my escort was having his.

It was rather late when we bowled away at a tremendous pace in a red
sulky, my portmanteau strapped on at the back, and a thoroughbred
American trotter, which had taken prizes at Sydney shows, harnessed to
the front. We just whizzed! It was splendid! The stones and dust rose in
a thick cloud from the whirling wheels and flying hoofs, and the posts of
the wire fence on our left passed like magic as we went. Mr Beecham
allowed me to drive after a time while he sat ready to take the reins
should an emergency arise.

It was sunset--most majestic hour of the twenty-four--when we drove up to
the great white gates which opened into the avenue leading to the main
homestead of Five-Bob Downs station--beautiful far-reaching Five-Bob
Downs! Dreamy blue hills rose behind, and wide rich flats stretched
before, through which the Yarrangung river, glazed with sunset, could be
seen lik