efinite period again.

Mr. Phillips was pleased with the proposal; it showed a more friendly
feeling towards his wife and family than she had ever evinced before,
so he offered to pay all her outward-bound expenses, at any rate, for
her. If she liked Australia, perhaps she might stay there with them
altogether; or, indeed, she might find a home for herself there, and
settle in the colony. Harriett said such a thing had never entered her
head--that she went merely on a visit; but she set about getting her
outfit in a very business-like way. It was an exceedingly busy
fortnight for Jane and Elsie; but by dint of great applications to
ready-made warehouses, everything was really got ready in time, and Mr.
Phillips had again to admire the thoughtfulness, the foresight, and the
method which Miss Melville showed in all her arrangements, while
Elsie's busy fingers were employed from morning to night in doing an
endless variety of little things that were needed to supplement the
ready-made stock of clothes.

Chapter XVI.

Another Good-Bye

Emily brightened up wonderfully at the prospect of a return to her old
home. She seemed to gain strength every day, and no objection could be
made to her going up to Edinburgh to pay her long-promised visit to
Peggy Walker before she left England. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips and little
Harriett accompanied her, and they took Jane Melville with them, for
Elsie could not be spared from the needlework, and she did not wish so
much to go to Scotland as Jane did.

Peggy was delighted to see her two nurslings, and also to see the young
lady to whom she had given a home when she most needed one. Tom eagerly
showed Jane what he had done in her absence, and received the
commendation he deserved for his industry and his success. Grandfather
was very weak, but in very tolerable spirits; this visit from Peggy's
friends would be something for him to think on for the short remainder
of his life. Mrs. Phillips's beauty and her fine clothes were something
new to him; and the liveliness of the girls, and the politeness of
their father, and Miss Jean's kind inquiries and kind looks all did him
good.

Francis Hogarth met, by appointment, his cousin Jane at Peggy Walker's,
where she meant to bid him good-bye, but he was not disposed to do so.

"You MUST come to Cross Hall, just to give a look at it before you bid
the country farewell for ever. Mr. Phillips, do come round by Cross
Hall, and let Jane se