or ever lost its interest to him; the only treasure it
contained held out no prospect of possession. In his heart there was a
blank, which nothing short of his idol could fill; but it was empty, and
seared; and vacant was his mind, and miserable his feelings, as he
leisurely journeyed on his way to Fern Vale. They were, in fact, such as
can be better imagined than described; and when he reached his station,
and delivered his horse to one of his men in silence, he went about his
usual vocations as one almost destitute of reason.

What the feelings of the lady most concerned were, had they been
consulted, we can well understand; but we must refrain from indulging in
anticipations. The manner of John's leave-taking, had struck, with no
little amazement, all those who saw him. Mrs. Rainsfield was the one,
who, conjecturing its cause, could best appreciate his feelings; she
pitied him, and secretly determined, that if he and Eleanor were to be
for ever separated, it should not be for want of strategy on her part.
She felt that not only his happiness, but the girl's too, depended upon
their union; and she considered her husband had taken too strict a
notion of the engagement with Smithers, who, she believed, thought very
little of it: therefore, Mrs. Rainsfield concluded, very little
manoeuvring would break it off; and so determined to devote her
energies to such a consummation.

CHAPTER VIII.

"Pray if you know
Where in the purlieus of this forest stands
A sheep cote?"

AS YOU LIKE IT, _Act_ 4, _Sc._ 3.

That portion of the year to which we now bring our narrative is, without
exception, the finest period of Australian seasons; when the temperature
is the _acme_ of salubrity, and the climate, generally, as delightful as
can be imagined. We speak of the spring when merging into the early
summer, and when the cool freshness of the morning breeze tempers the
genial warmth of the mid-day sun; which had acquired just sufficient
strength in his rays to impart a pleasant heat without oppressiveness.
On such a morning, then, when the vast concave of the heavens, expanded
in a perfectly spotless azure sky (such as in our foggy isle is never
seen); and with the freshness of the bush developing its verdure in the
odorous exudations of floriferous plants, and the blithesome exuberance
of the songless denizens of nature's nemoral aviary; William took his
departure on th