ome now, no more looking around ye, or I'll
never get ye away to-morrow."

"But you promise to bring me back some day, Mr. Cameron, before very
long."

"Ay, ay, we'll come back sure enough, don't fret yourself; but first ye
must see the old country, and learn to know my friends."

Amongst their neighbours at this time was a young man, apparently about
thirty years old; he had travelled to Hobart in the same ship as Mr.
Cameron, for whom he had conceived a warm feeling of friendship. Captain
Wylie had lately come in for some property in Tasmania, and as he was on
furlough and had nothing to keep him at home, he had come out to see his
belongings, and since his arrival at Hobart had been a frequent visitor
at the chalet.

Though a settled melancholy seemed to rest upon him, his history
explained it, for Captain Wylie was married, and yet it was years since
he had seen his wife. They had both met at a ball at Gibraltar many
years ago. She had been governess in an officer's family on the "Rock"
while his regiment had been stationed there. She was nineteen, very
pretty, and alone in the world. They had married after five or six
weeks' acquaintance, and parted by mutual consent after as many months.
She had been self-willed and extravagant, he had nothing but his pay at
that time, and she nearly ruined him.

[Sidenote: Captain Wylie]

It ended in recriminations. He had a violent temper, and she was proud
and sarcastic. They had parted in deep anger and resentment, she to
return to her governessing, for she was too proud to accept anything
from him, he to remove to another regiment and go to India.

At first he had tried to forget all this short interlude of love and
happiness, and flung himself into a gay, wild life: but it would not do.
He had deeply loved her with the first strong, untried love of a young
impetuous man, and her image was always coming before him. An intense
hunger to see her again had swept away every feeling of resentment.
Lately he had heard of her as governess to a family in Gibraltar, and a
great longing had come over him just to see her once more, and to find
out if she still cared for him.

He and Mr. Cameron had travelled out together on a sailing ship, and
during the voyage he had been led to confide in the kindly, simple old
gentleman; but so sacred did the latter consider his confidence that
even to his affianced bride he had never recalled it.

All these thoughts crowded into the young