so long as you don't ask me to live here. I've been here
six weeks, and there's only one thing that I feel I want and can't
get--no, miss, it ain't rum, there's plenty of that, thank God!--it's
air, air. I suppose the city gents are used to living without it,
though some of you look pale enough. _You_ don't look quite the thing
yourself, sir; rather white about the gills, and not enough meat on
you. Ah! I'd soon alter that if I had you at Salisbury Plain. Lord! I
should like to take out a whole shipload of you; and mind, I could do
with a few, and pay you better wages than you get in the City of
London. And the life! Why, you'd think yourselves kings, with a horse
to ride and plenty to eat, and plenty of fun. But there! you can't tell
what it's like unless you've seen it, and if ever you should have a
fancy to see it, you come out to Salisbury Plain, to my little place on
the Burra-Burra; for I like the look of you, young man; you're a
gentleman, though I've an idea you're down on your luck--I ain't so
drunk that I can't see through a man's eyes, and there's trouble in
yours; been outrunning the constable, eh? And you're not too proud to
take a drink with an honest man--honest, though rough, maybe."

"Not at all," said Stafford, "and now you will take a drink with me, or
shall we make it a cigar?" for he did not want to lead the man any
further on the road of inebriety.

"A cigar? Right you are," the settler replied, promptly. He took out an
envelope, intending to screw it up for a light, but suddenly caught
sight of the address, and with genial gravity handed the envelope to
Stafford. "There's my name--Henery Joffler, and there's my address, and
anybody at Melbourne will tell you the best way of getting there. Come
when you like, winter or summer, and you'll find Henery Joffler ready
to receive you with a welcome. _Now_ I will have a drink," he remarked,
as if he had not partaken of one for a calendar month.

When Stafford left the little public house, he held the envelope in his
hand and was about to tear it up, when he checked himself and
mechanically put it into his pocket. The incident, if it had not
actually amused him, had diverted his mind in a wholesome manner for a
short space; but he had almost forgotten it when has reached his rooms.
The time had slipped by him and it was now twilight and as he was
crossing the room in the dusk to ring the bell for a light, a woman
rose from his chair and came towards him