ed their various breasts, we will
leave the reader to conjecture; merely stating that they so operated, as
to cause the journey to be performed almost in silence. When they
reached Strawberry Hill, Eleanor at once proceeded to her chamber, and
in her privacy gave vent to the feelings that overpowered her in a flood
of tears; while John, very much subdued in spirit, almost immediately
took his departure, accompanied by Tom Rainsfield.

We may now explain the sudden appearance of Bob Smithers, when he so
unceremoniously interrupted the _tete-a-tete_ of John and Eleanor. He
had been accompanied by a man (to whom he was attempting to sell a run
on the Gibson, below Fern Vale) to show him the country; and in
returning, having taken the route by which he would cross the Wombi at
the upper flat on the Dingo plains a little below the falls, he
accidentally caught the sound of voices as he approached the river, and
being curious to know from whence they emanated, he rode with his
companion towards the spot. When he came sufficiently close to see what
we have already described, he could hardly believe his eyes; for he
instantly recognised John Ferguson, though the lady who was listening to
his appeal, he could not so readily detect. That it must be Eleanor
Rainsfield he did not doubt, though how she came in such company, and in
such a place, he could not imagine, and could hardly reconcile to his
belief. He, however, listened, and when he caught her name uttered by
her prostrate suitor, his rage at the discovery was unbounded. Yet his
inquisitiveness to hear more, and know how she received the addresses,
overcame for the moment, the first impulse of his malevolence; and kept
him silent until the moment, when he dismounted from his horse, we have
seen him appear on the scene.

After parting from the Rainsfields, he altered his determination of
going home direct; and arranging with his companion to meet him at
Brompton on the following day, he dashed his spurs into his horse's
flanks; and being impelled by the excitement of a jealous frenzy and
malice, he pulled up at Strawberry Hill a full hour before the pic-nic
party made their appearance; and instantly sought an interview with Mr.
Rainsfield.

Not finding him in the house, Bob Smithers commenced a search; and soon
distinguished his voice in high altercation with some one, as he
approached the door of the store, where he overheard the following
dialogue.

"I tell you again,