l girls, who, as he thought, had
no manner and no style. It was surprising how well these two new
friends agreed about everything and everybody.

Dr. Grant, from his education and his habits, considered himself a
reading man, and a very well informed one. Miss Phillips, too, had
thought Brandon greatly her inferior in literary acquirements, as in
all other things; but it was singular to observe how little these two
people, who were so congenial to each other, and who enjoyed each
other's company so much, and had so much of it, talked about the many
books they must have read. As for religion, politics, or any other of
the great concerns of life, they never seemed to rise even on the
surface of conversation; and when a book happened to be mentioned, it
was dismissed with a casual remark, such as "I read it," or "I did not
read it," or "I liked it," or "I thought it stupid," and then they
turned to things which more nearly interested them, and these were
things in which they themselves or some one related to them made some
figure. If any of Miss Phillips's, or any of Dr. Grant's relations had
published a book, that would have been mentioned and extolled, but they
had not. Vivian's scientific attainments, which Harriett had thought
rather a bore at home, were however something to boast of here; and Dr.
Grant had an uncle who had made some improvements in agriculture in the
north of Scotland, of whom he was never tired of talking.

Miss Phillips had remained in Melbourne to be with her sister-in-law,
but she was very little beside her. Besides Dr. Grant, there were
fellow-passengers who visited at the house, and whose visits Miss
Phillips was bound to return, and there were also public places to go
to with them; for she wished to see all that was to be seen in
Melbourne while she was there; and though she generally criticised all
the Melbourne concerts, and theatres, and balls, and private parties
very severely, she accepted every invitation and joined every party
that was made up for the theatre.

Elsie and the nurse had the care of Mrs. Phillips and the baby, though
Elsie would have preferred being at Wiriwilta, with Jane and the elder
children, for she missed their cheerful society, but she could not be
spared. Miss Phillips was in exceedingly good-humour at this time, and
did not exact so much from Elsie as she had expected; but Mrs. Phillips
missed her husband, and was rather petulant and capricious. She had
been con