id aside his robes with more ominous
significance, than Nettie, with fingers trembling between haste and
agitation, smoothed down round her shapely wrists those turned-up
sleeves.

The doctor's better genius saved him from driving the indignant Titania
desperate at that critical moment by any ill-advised rejoicings; and the
sight of Nettie's agitation so far calmed Dr Rider that he made the most
sober and decorous congratulations to the sister-in-law, whom for the
first time he felt grateful to. Perhaps, had he been less absorbed in
his own affairs, he could scarcely have failed to remember how, not yet
a year ago, the shabby form of Fred lay on that same sofa from which
Susan had announced her new prospects; but in this unexampled revolution
of affairs no thought of Fred disturbed his brother, whose mind was
thoroughly occupied with the sudden tumult of his own hopes. "Oh yes, I
hope I shall be happy at last. After all my troubles, I have to look to
myself, Mr Edward; and your poor brother would have been the last to
blame me," sobbed Mrs Fred, with involuntary self-vindication. Then
followed a pause. The change was too sudden and extraordinary, and
involved results too deeply important to every individual present, to
make words possible. Mrs Fred, with her face buried in her handkerchief,
and Nettie, her whole frame thrilling with mortification and failure,
tremulously trying to button her sleeves, and bestowing her whole mind
upon that operation, were discouraging interlocutors; and after the
doctor and the Bushman had shaken hands, their powers of communication
were exhausted. The silence was at length broken by the Australian, who,
clearing his voice between every three words, delivered his embarrassed
sentiments as follows:--

"I trust, Miss Nettie, you'll not think you've been unfairly dealt by,
or that any change is necessary so far as you are concerned. Of course,"
said Mr Chatham, growing red, and plucking at his beard, "neither your
sister nor I--found out--till quite lately--how things were going to be;
and as for you making any change in consequence, or thinking we could be
anything but glad to have you with us----"

Here the alarming countenance of Nettie, who had left off buttoning her
sleeves, brought her new relation to a sudden stop. Under the blaze of
her inquiring eyes the Bushman could go no farther. He looked at Susan
for assistance, but Susan was still absorbed in her handkerchief; and
while he