he was ashamed he should know about--probably to fetch a
heavy parcel. So, instead of going to Richmond, he took the road on
which he would be most likely to meet her, so as to assist her if
possible, and as he came up to the square where Mrs. Peck and Elsie
were talking, he met with a bush acquaintance, who, after the usual
greetings to the returned Brandon, pointed to the two female figures,
and remarked--"There's Mrs. Peck back again to Melbourne, and a very
pretty girl with her. I wonder if she brought her from Adelaide. I
thought Melbourne had lost that ornament for ever, but here she is as
large as life again."

Something in the attitude and form of the girl in the distance reminded
him of a person he had seen. He was sorry for the poor thing, and
walked quickly towards the place where they were standing engrossed
with their important business. To his surprise and horror he found she
was really the person he thought she slightly resembled, and he lost no
time in coming forward to stop the conversation.

Mrs. Phillips was astonished and distressed to see Elsie return with
Brandon without Mrs. Peck. Where they had met, and how they had got rid
of her, she could not imagine. Elsie went to take off her bonnet and
return to her work, and Mrs. Phillips was left alone with Brandon. At
his first word, his first question, how could she let Alice Melville go
out of her house with a woman so well known in Melbourne as Mrs. Peck,
Mrs. Phillips burst into tears.

"I could not help it; indeed, I could not help it. Stanley will be so
angry if you tell him, and I am sure I did all I could to keep her
away, but she would come, and she would take a fancy to Alice, and sit
with her, and then when I sent Alice out for the buttons, she would go
with her."

"But why have you her here at all, Mrs. Phillips?" said Brandon,
gravely. "You must know that she is no fit person to be in your house,
particularly in Mr. Phillips's absence. Confide in your good husband.
If there is any part of your past life that you are afraid of her
telling, believe me you will not better yourself by keeping in her
power--tell your husband everything, and shake yourself free of this
dangerous woman."

"Stanley knows everything--everything about me--but he said I never was
to speak to her again; and I am sure I never wished to; but how can I
help it when she will come--and she is my own mother? But don't tell
anybody, for Stanley would be so vexed. I don't