othing, and in time
even such gossip as this failed to disturb him. But he swore to give
Charlton another thrashing when the opportunity came.

*****

A year had come and gone, and Lester found himself in Sydney. He liked
the free, open life among the pearlers, and intended to go back after
a month or so of idleness in the southern city. One evening he strolled
into the bar of Pfahlerts Hotel and ordered a whisky-and-soda. The
girl he spoke to looked into his face for a moment and then nearly
fainted--it was Nina Charlton!

"Give me your address," she said quickly, as she put out her hand. "I
will come and see you in an hour from now."

She came, and in a few minutes told him her history since he had seen
her last. The captain of the _Lynniale_ pitying her terror at the
prospect of her husband following her, had concealed her when the
steamer was near Sydney, and it was he who telegraphed to Charlton that
his wife had disappeared on the passage and was supposed to have jumped
or fallen overboard. And she told Lester that she knew of her husband's
second marriage and knew who it was whom he had married.

What was she going to do? Lester asked.

Nothing, she said. She would rather die than let Charlton know she was
alive. When she had saved money enough she would go back to her own
people.

Lester walked home with her. At the door of the hotel she bade him
good-night.

"We shall meet sometimes, shall we not?" she asked wistfully. "I have
not a friend in all Sydney."

"Neither have I," he said, "and I shall only be too happy to come and
see you." She was silent a moment, then as she placed her hand in his
she asked softly--

"Have you forgotten _her_ altogether?"

"Yes," he answered, "I have. I did cut up a bit at first. But I'm over
it now."

Her fingers pressed his again, and then with an almost whispered
"Good-night" she was gone.

Before a month was over Lester was honestly in love with her. And she
knew it, though he was too honourable a man to tell her so. Then one day
he came to her hurriedly.

"I'm going back to Torres Straits to-morrow," he said. "I may be away
for two years.... You will not forget me."

"No," she answered, with a sob, "I shall never forget you; you are all
the world to me. And go now, dear, quickly; for I love you--and I am
only a woman."

*****

But there is a kindly Providence in these things, for when Lester
reached Thursday Island in Torres Straits he heard that Charl