from Mr. Sinclair, who had been in Canada and the United
States, and from a conversation between you and Mr. Phillips and Mr.
Dempster the first day he dined with us in London. He says nothing
sharpens an Englishman up like intercourse with such pushing,
energetic, straightforward people as colonists."

"That is high praise from a British member of Parliament. I owe him
something for that. But did you see Peggy before you left?"

"Yes; we went up to bid her good-bye. I think she will not be long in
joining us," said Jane.

"Well," said Grant, who, as well as Harriett, felt that Miss Melville
was receiving more than her fair share of Brandon's conversation, "you
have not given at all a satisfactory account of yourself. You have been
figuring away in Adelaide, I suppose, and enjoying yourself, and
leaving your own affairs and Mr. Phillips's affairs to mind themselves."

"And you have been figuring away in Melbourne, Dr. Grant," said
Emily--she could not bear any aspersion to be cast on her friend,
Brandon--"and then you brought Aunt Harriett away; so you leave no one
with poor mamma but Alice. I am wearying so to see mamma and the baby
boy."

"Suppose you go with me," said Brandon; "for I am going to Melbourne
to-morrow to see them, and I have some business there besides."

"Oh! that would be delightful. Miss Melville, may I go?"

"I think not, Emily," said Jane. "Your mamma will be soon here, and
your papa will be disappointed to find you gone when he comes here. I
should not wonder that he will take you with him when he goes himself,
and that would be better, I think."

"Much better," said Miss Phillips. "I wonder that you could think of
such a thing as troubling Mr. Brandon to take care of you all that long
way."

Emily made rather a pertinent remark as to her aunt showing her the
example, at which Miss Phillips blushed, and Grant looked conscious but
delighted. He could not conceive what was taking Brandon to Melbourne
immediately on his return from Adelaide; he did not believe his
assertion that he had business to attend to there. It was another sign
of his being spoiled by his visit to England--it had completely
unsettled him.

Now that Brandon had heard that his letter had never reached Elsie, and
consequently that he had not been treated by her with discourtesy or
unkindness, he felt relieved; but, at the same time, a little sorry
that all his trouble had been wasted, and that it was all to do over
a