gain. A few months ago he had lamented that he could not have it out
by word of mouth; but now he regretted this letter had not, at least,
broken the ice, and inclined her to listen to his suit. However, things
had come to such a pass that he could not wait an indefinite time; he
must go to Melbourne and learn his fate without delay. He left Edgar at
Wiriwilta, where Emily thought him very much improved, and where the
boy was exceedingly happy. He took a great fancy to Miss Melville, who
was very different from the fond anxious women who had brought him up,
but whose experiences with the Lowries had given her great interest in
boys of that age, and who knew so much on all subjects that she never
failed to win upon them, if they were tolerably intelligent and well
disposed.

Chapter VI.

Mrs. Peck's Progress

All things continued favourable to Mrs. Peck's plans--she met with no
disaster by sea in her voyage from Adelaide to Melbourne; the 'Havilah'
brought her to her destination in three days, and she landed on the
familiar shores with a light and hopeful heart. She was not long in
discovering where Mrs. Phillips lived, which was in East Melbourne; and
as no time was to be lost, she repaired to the house on the very day on
which she landed, dressed decently and respectably, like the wife of an
artisan, or perhaps with more of the appearance of a monthly nurse.

The girl who opened the door asked her name when she requested to see
Mrs. Phillips, and she announced herself, not as Mrs. Peck, but as Mrs.
Mahoney, under which name she had taken out her passage, and begged to
see the missis by herself for a few minutes. Mrs. Phillips was then
sitting in an easy-chair in the drawing-room, the nurse was engaged
with the baby, and Elsie busy in Mrs. Phillips's room; so the stranger
was introduced to have a quiet interview with her daughter.

"Well, Betsy, do you not recollect me?" said Mrs. Peck, in a subdued
but intensely earnest voice, whenever the girl was out of hearing.
"Have you forgotten your own mother?"

Mrs. Phillips grew deadly pale, and was about to scream.

"Hush! Betsy, be quiet," said her mother. "I've only come to pay you a
friendly visit. I've longed so to see you again all these years, and
now I heard you was by yourself, I thought I must run all risks to get
a look at you. Why, how handsome you've grown, and everything handsome
about you, too;" and Mrs. Peck gazed with wondering admiration at the