t judge her," her father said,
sighing. "Poor soul, she paid for her harshness. Later the truth of the
whole bad business came out, and she would have given the world to be
able to beg his forgiveness-only it was too late."

"Was he dead, Daddy?"

"They found his body in the river," said Mr. Linton. "Poor old chap, he
couldn't stand the loss of his whole world. I've wished ever since that
I could tell him I never believed the lie for a moment. I was in England
at the time, and I knew nothing about it until he was dead."

"Poor old Daddy," said Norah softly.

"Oh, it's an old story, now," Mr. Linton said. "Only I never lose the
regret--and wish that I could have done something to help my old friend.
I don't quite know why I've told you about it, except that I want you to
be kind to young Dick Stephenson, because his life has been a sad enough
one."

"Is his mother alive?"

"She lives in Melbourne," said her father. "I think she only lives for
this boy, and the time when she can go to her husband and beg his
forgiveness. He'll give it, too--poor old Jim. He could never bear
malice in his life, and I'm certain death couldn't change his nature.
The lad seems a good chap; he's had a first-rate education. But his
mother never gave him any profession; I don't know why. Women aren't
made for business. So he wants to teach."

"I'll be good to him, Daddy." Norah slipped her hand into her father's.

"That's my little girl. I knew I could depend on you," said Mr. Linton.
A far-away look came into his eyes, and he pulled hard at his pipe.
Norah guessed he was thinking of days of long ago.

She pulled her bait up, and examination told her it was untouched. The
fish were certainly shy, and another half-hour's tempting did not bring
them to the hook. It was exceedingly dull. Norah wound up her line
slowly. She also had been thinking.

"I'm going for a walk, Daddy," she said.

"All right, dear; don't go far," said her father absently.

Norah walked soberly along the log until she reached the creek bank, and
then jumped ashore. She looked round at her father, but he was absorbed
in his fishing and his thoughts, and so the little girl slipped away
into the bush. She made her way among the trees quickly, keeping to the
line of the creek. Presently she sat down on a moss-grown stump and
thought deeply.

The Hermit had been pretty constantly in Norah's mind since the troopers
had been scouring the district in their search for