d easily do, for she had
been somewhat educated in a school patronised by the Australian _beau
monde_. Had not her grandma told me of the magnitude of her education
when I had first arrived? and did she not constantly repeat the story
now? For having survived the fear of Ernest being too aristocratic,
she took pride in his worldly possessions and position, and
characterised him as "more likely than most, if he only turns out true
to name, which in the case of husbands is as rare as bought seed
potatoes turnin' out what they're supposed to be; but there ain't any
good of meeting troubles half-way."

As the wedding preparations made so much bother, grandma got in a
woman to clean and another to sew, and determined to admit no summer
boarders until after Christmas.

"I can do without 'em, only I like to see money changin' hands quicker
than happens with a farm," said she; while also, in consideration of
the wedding, the doors, whose opening and shutting had been obstructed
by the ravages of the white ants, were at last satisfactorily
repaired.

Dawn, after the manner of most youthful brides, was desirous of the
full torture of "keeping up" her wedding, while Ernest, as usual with
bridegrooms, so shrunk from display that he would have paid half a
year's income to escape it; but it was only to me he made this
confession, to Dawn he was manfully unselfish, allowing her full rein
and agreeably falling in with her requirements.

I did not think much of fussy weddings, but these were such a
splendid pair of young things that I was pleased to endure the
preparations with a smile instead of a sigh, and contribute some old
silks and laces towards the trousseau; while a few dainty and
expensive trifles, sent to me from a traveller over the sea, found a
place in the furnishing of the bride's boudoir.

Like all strictly reared girls, a certain prudishness at first caused
Dawn to shrink from her love as something that should be resisted, but
as her wedding-day drew near her heart grew more at peace regarding
her contemplated change of life, and unfolded to the enchanting
influence of youth's master passion. The roseate mists it weaves
before the vision of its happy and willing victims, blunted even this
girl's exceptional and matter-of-fact perspicacity, and with her ears
grown suddenly deaf to those who had at first alarmed her by the
recapitulation of their unfortunate practical and disillusioning
experiences, looked out towar