, was differently disposed; he had travelled a long
distance, and was pretty tired of his vocation; he knew that the animals
could not travel much further that day, and if they proceeded another
two or three miles they would have to halt just the same; while nothing
would be gained, but the probability of having to camp with them. So,
bushman though he was, he preferred comfortable quarters for the night,
to a stretcher beside a camp fire. He therefore raised his voice against
his brother's objection; and John was thus out-voted in the conclave,
and compelled to submit to the over-ruling of his companions. They,
therefore, made arrangements for the halt; informing their men that they
would be with them on the morning by daylight; and then joined their
friend, and sauntered towards the house.

From Tom the ladies soon learnt the scheme of the brothers with regard
to their sister, and were importunate in their entreaties to hurry her
arrival. John Ferguson, who had not recovered the despondency the
communication of Tom had thrown him into, was quite bewildered with the
badinage that was directed to him from all quarters during the evening,
for his reluctance in bringing his sister out to the station. Mrs.
Rainsfield affirmed that it was because he was such a confirmed
bachelor, he could not bear the thought of being under a lady's
dominion, even though it were his sister; while Tom declared his belief
that Mr. Ferguson was afraid of presenting her, for fear that he, Tom,
would effect a reprisal, and walk off with her. Even as it was, he said,
he would not answer for himself; if Miss Ferguson was as charming as he
fully anticipated she would prove, he thought he would enter into a
compact with her brothers and secure her at once.

All this raillery and playfulness, was little heeded by John Ferguson,
who remained particularly abstracted; so much so, that it became
distinctly discernible, and the loquacity of his friends gradually
subdued. As the conversation began to slacken, Miss Rainsfield raised
her eyes from her work, and addressing their taciturn visitor in the
sweetest possible voice, asked him if he would not allow his sister to
remain on a visit with them for a short time, before she fixed her abode
with her brothers; so as to give her an opportunity of settling herself
in her new home, making her acquaintance with her neighbours, and
affording them the pleasure of her society.

John was roused to consciousness b