of antibilious
treatment. In defiance of all Sunday-school precedents, I can be cheerful
though wicked, and, having attained the splendid isolation of perfect
selfishness, my happiness is not dependent on the gaiety or gloom of the
crowd, My boy, you might remember that your experience is not so wide as
to justify you in asking mankind at large to accept you as the touchstone
for all human emotions. Good-bye.'

Jim gripped his brother's hand and held it. 'Good bye!' he said. 'I wish
I could do something for you, but you leave me helpless.'

Ryder went off with a laugh, and a moment later his voice came back
through the trees--a light, musical baritone, singing an Irish love-song,
and Jim, listening, troubled in spirit, wondered how much of the true man
he had been permitted to see.

Throughout the quiet months that followed Done lived a sober, methodical
life. He saw no more of his brother while they remained on the Jim Crow
diggings, but thought of him constantly, dreading to hear of some further
daring escapade on the part of Solo, fearing more the possibility of his
capture. Burton was perplexed by the note of gravity that had developed
in his mate, until he made an accidental discovery of Lucy Woodrow's
locket, and then he thought he understood all, especially as Jim's visits
to Kyley's shanty were comparatively rare of late. Meanwhile, Jim had
written once to Lucy, but had received no answer--a fact that did not
disturb him, however, as the postal service on the fields and in the Bush
was extremely erratic. He was quite satisfied now that he had been in
love with his shipmate all the time, but it was not easy to account for
Aurora. Certainly he had been very fond of her: he was fond of her still,
and could not bring himself to regret having known her. He strove
resolutely to refrain from applying conventional standards of judgment,
with which, he assured himself, he had no sympathy, but little
uneasinesses and awkward moments would obtrude. It was difficult to
maintain the fine idea of rationalism. 'I won't have you bind the strange
man you may be to-morrow with oaths,' Aurora had said; yet it was evident
the change in him was a source of great distress to her.

'I haven't seen you for a fortnight, Jim,' she said one evening, with a
tinge of reproach that she was striving to repress.

'No,' he said shortly.

'And absence hasn't made you particularly fond.'

He was leaning on the counter, and took her hand be