which
especially interested him, Francis returned to his club. He sat down
before going to bed with a cigar, and took up his letters. An
Australian mail was in, and a letter from Jane and from Elsie. Jane's
was first taken up and read. It described her life at Wiriwilta, the
house, and the scenery, so far as she could do it justice; Miss
Phillips's relations with Dr. Grant, and Jane's hopes that Brandon and
Elsie would come to an understanding, for his manner had been very much
like that of a man in love. How cautious, yet how affectionate were her
expressions to himself! How she seemed to live in others, and to care
for the happiness of everyone in the world, while regardless of her own
and of his.

"Ah, Jane," said he, half aloud, "how different it would be to come
home, after such an evening as this, to you; to see your dear eyes
brighten at the recital of all I have seen and all I have heard; to
hear your beloved voice inspiring me to more exertion and more
patience. After sitting through so many party debates, so much
transparent self-seeking, and so much ungenerous opposition as I cannot
help seeing in Parliament, how refreshing to see, among such men as I
have met to-day, the pure, genuine public spirit which Jane first
showed me the example of in the midst of her hardest trials. This
reform does not bring personal advantage to one of these people, and
yet they are as enthusiastic about it as if their lives depended on it.
It may bring fame; but, as M. ---- says, 'The laurels will be late, and
we will have lost the care for them by the time they fall on our
heads.' The pleasure is in the work--the disinterested work itself--as
Jane used to say. There is one half the globe between us. I cannot
fancy that she is sitting over the fire thinking of me at this moment;
it is morning with her; and she is up and busy. But in my business, and
in my pleasure, or my trouble, she is always in the background--if not
in the foreground--of my thoughts. But then she does not love me as I
love her." And a long fit of silent musing, with the letter in his
hand, followed these half-spoken regrets.

"But I must read Elsie's letter too; it appears to be long, and the
first she has written to me--later in date than Jane's, which is posted
in the country, and I suppose asking for congratulations--well, she
shall have them."

As he opened the envelope, and saw the curious legal-looking document
enclosed, containing the certified copy