erything and everybody would have been rather painful; but Harriett
received them graciously, and told Dr. Grant that she felt quite
delighted with this first specimen of bush hospitality, and with his
Scotch friends.

Dr. Grant on his side was exceedingly proud of his companion, and felt
quite sure of his success with her; he never had been so agreeable as
during this long drive, and when they appeared at Wiriwilta, on the
second day, in time for an early tea, both travellers were full of
spirits, and not at all tired. Mr. Phillips was not at home, and not
expected for some days. Jane was somewhat surprised by the appearance
of Miss Phillips under such care, but received her politely and kindly.

Dr. Grant had to go home to attend to business, but promised to ride
across to Wiriwilta, as soon as possible, to see if Miss Phillips had
not suffered any fatigue from the long journey over such rough roads.

It was rather flat at the station for Harriett on the following day.
She was disappointed with the house, for though it was a great deal
better than Mrs. Ballantyne's, it was not so large or so convenient as
she had expected. She could not take any interest in the many things
which the children showed her, which they thought so beautiful--their
pet animals, the few wild flowers they could find at this season of the
year, their dear old trees, their pretty walks, the native boy Jim,
Mrs. Bennett's baby, and the curious windmill that Mr. Tuck had made
for them with his clasp knife and some twigs. She could not be troubled
with such childish talk; she wanted rational conversation; but when
Jane Melville sat beside her, and conversed in her own quiet sensible
way, she felt even that to be unsatisfactory.

A new element had entered into Miss Phillips's life. She was, after her
fashion, in love; and she was restless and dissatisfied without the
presence of the beloved object. Dr. Grant was just long enough away to
be very welcome when he came; and Jane was a little amused at the
manner in which Harriett threw off her languid air of indifference, and
talked to this (to Jane) most uninteresting Scotchman, who was so full
of national pride and personal vanity. Jane was very cosmopolitan in
her ideas, both by nature and by education. Her uncle had always had
more pride in being a Briton than a North Briton, and never had fired
up with indignation at Scotland being included or merged in England.
She did not think Scotchmen intri