ery much to my surprise;
and as I was thought to be making money, I had no want of sweethearts.
After I had gone on for some years the diggings broke out, and there
was an awful overturn of everything in Melbourne. I made a lot of
money, and I bought the shop from the landlord, and was very proud to
get my title-deed written out on parchment, and to see myself a woman
of landed heritable property; and then I made my will, too, for I had
something to leave. I never was doing better in business in my life
than when Robbie Lowrie, a brother of Sandy's, came out to go to the
diggings, and maybe with an eye to make up to myself; but the news he
brought me made me change all my plans and return to Scotland. He told
me that the grandmother was dead, and that the old man, who never had
half the gumption of his wife, was not able to control the five
youngsters; so that they were getting out their heads at no allowance.
Tam, in particular, he said, was a most camsteery callant; but the old
man, he said, was fairly off all work, and not one of his own bairns
were either able or willing to help him, and I knew that he had an
awful horror of the sea. So I let my shop, and sold the stock for time;
and indeed the payments have no been owre regular, and the man that
took it is still in my debt. I found the grandfather and the bairns
were really as Robbie had said, and I have had my own work to set
things to rights. They were in debt, too, though I had sent them double
the money after I had the shop than before; but they just thought that
a rich auntie in Australia was a mine of wealth, and the folk very
unwisely gave them trust whenever they asked it. But they were doing
very weel at the school, and I find it a hantle cheaper to give them
learning here than in Melbourne; so it answers me better to bide here
than to take them out, even if grandfather would agree. He was good to
me and mine in my straits, and I cannot think to leave the old man now.

"But what with the rent and the schooling, and one thing and another, I
found that the rent of my bit shop would not pay all expenses, so I
took in washing and dressing for the folk about Swinton. I was aye
clever at it, and I got a great inkling about clear-starching and fine
dressing from that Mrs. Bennett, at Mr. Phillips's station, for she was
a particular good laundress. A body learns at all hands if one has only
the will. And ye see, now, it seemed better for Tam and the rest that I
sh