t Dick poured out such a volley of oaths, that John wisely forbore to
say anything further.

Finding he could not provoke John to retaliate, Dick sneered: "I suppose
now you've sown your wild oats, and got all you could out of me, you'll
be sending for that smooth-tongued, virtuous wench to come out and help
you keep straight, for such a poor weak fool as you'll never do without
some one to look after you; but see if I don't let her know a few of
your nice little secrets."

John's blood was raised to boiling-point. He started to his feet, and
the next minute Dick lay prostrate before him.

"Take that," he cried; "and if you dare to say one more word about her,
I'll give you cause to repent it. You're not worthy to lick the ground
she treads on."

Dick looked up, but neither moved nor spoke, while his younger brother
thrust a few odds and ends into a bag, and prepared to leave. Coward as
he was, he feared to provoke John's just anger again, and not till after
the door was violently slammed behind his brother, and the sound of his
rapid footsteps had died away, did Dick rise from the ground.

Then he shook himself to ascertain if he had received any damages, and
finding himself not much the worse for his fall, he sat down and took
out his pipe. For some time he smoked furiously, and then struck his
hands together as he exclaimed:

"I'll do it, as sure as I live! I'll pay him out for this, or my name's
not Dick Greenwood."

Three days after, John walked into the store in Melbourne, where he had
been previously employed.

"It's you, is it?" said the foreman; "ain't you satisfied with your
change?"

"No," said John, with emphasis; "I'd rather sweep a crossing. I suppose
you've filled my place."

The foreman nodded, and jerked his thumb in the direction of a young man
who was leisurely serving a customer.

"Do you really want work, man, or is it only 'come and go' again?" asked
he, seeing that John looked disappointed.

"Mr. Smith, I'd give anything for a chance to work. I'm sick of knocking
about."

"Well, look here! he ain't up to much good," and the shopman was again
indicated; "got no 'go' in him, and you always suited me. You may come
and show him how to do business in my line, but you'll have to start
with lower wages, eh?"

John thankfully accepted the offer. "Now for Ruth and a home of my own!"
he said the next morning, when beginning his work.

It was scarcely a wise decision he had made, not to w