and whose advice was probably
worth nothing at any time.

Amongst other subjects for censure, the great freedom of manners,
particularly amongst young people of different sexes towards each
other, struck Miss Phillips forcibly. She had observed at evening
parties, at picnics, and at places of public amusement, the very
unrestrained way in which they talked and behaved, and she thought the
colonial girls were badly trained, and that they ought to be more
carefully watched by mothers and chaperones. At the same time she took
full latitude herself, and did many things on the strength of her being
in Australia, where people might do as they liked, that surprised even
the colonial girls themselves.

If she remarked on their flirtations with their old friends, they could
not help observing Miss Phillips's prepossession towards her new
acquaintance, and laughing at the manner in which the two seemed
wrapped up in each other. How could she endure his returning to Ben
More, and leaving her, perhaps, for another month in Melbourne without
his society, was a question which they frequently put to each other;
but she solved that difficulty to her own satisfaction and as much to
their amusement.

"I am very sorry to leave you," said Dr. Grant one day to the object of
his attentions, "but I must go. Business must not be neglected. I
cannot be flying about like Brandon, letting my affairs go to ruin. I
hope you will not be long in coming to Wiriwilta, Miss Phillips."

"Not very long I suppose," said Harriett. "Indeed, I think there is
nothing to prevent Mrs. Phillips from going home now, if she would only
believe so."

"Nothing whatever," said Grant.

"I am quite wearying to see Wiriwilta," said Harriett: "the children's
letters are quite rapturous about its beauties, and Miss Melville, too,
seems very much pleased. You will like Miss Melville, I am sure. You
like Scotch people, I know."

"If I do not like Miss Melville better than her sister, my liking will
not go very far," said Grant.

"Do you know Stanley thought Alice quite pretty at first--I don't see
it. Miss Melville is what people call plain, but I prefer her
appearance to Alice's, and she is very clever and strong-minded. I
quite expect you to fall in love with Miss Melville," said Harriett,
with a little laugh.

"No fear of that. I have no fancy for strong-minded women. Not but what
I like a good understanding and good sense in a lady, but let each sex
keep to i