ing shed.

Joe Rogers appeared before the bench of magistrates at Yarraman on the
following Monday. Harry and Dick were in attendance as witnesses; Chris
was also present in court, and there Harry saw her for the first time
since the night of Shine's arrest. She sat beside Mrs. Summers, a stout,
grey, motherly woman, and was dressed in deep mourning. Harry thought she
had never looked so beautiful. But how changed she was from the simple
gentle girl of a few days back! She sat as she did when he found her in
the skillion after her father had been taken, with intent eyes bent upon
the floor. When called upon to give her evidence she gave it clearly and
fully, in a firm distinct voice, like a person without interest or
feeling. She seemed to have no desire to shield the character of her
father, but told the whole truth respecting him, and left the Court with
her companion immediately on being informed that her services were no
longer required, so that Harry was unable to speak with her. This was a
bitter blow to him; he believed that she was taking precautions to avoid
him, and saw in that action further reason for his suspicion that her
declaration of affection had been a mistake or perhaps a deliberate
deception. 'I deceived them all. I lied to everybody,' she said. The
young man stiffened himself with chill comfortless pride, and made no
effort to seek her out. He loved her, he told himself, but was no
whimpering fool to abase himself at the feet of a woman who was careless,
or might be even worse--pitiful.

Joe Rogers reserved his defence and was committed to stand his trial at
the forthcoming sessions in about a fortnight's time, charged with
gold-stealing, wounding Harry Hardy, and shooting at Trooper Casey.

Harry returned to his work. He made no further calls at the homestead to
inquire after Christina, but heard from Dick that she had not returned to
Waddy, but was staying in Yarraman till after the trial. Mrs. Haddon
expressed an opinion that the poor girl felt the disgrace of her position
keenly, and dreaded to face the people of the township where her father
had been accepted as a shining light for so many years, and where she had
always commanded respect and affection.

As the time for the trial approached Harry found himself hungering for a
sight of her face again. Pride and common-sense were no weapons with
which to fight love. At best they afforded only a poor disguise behind
which a man might hide his