my hand to a brave man who
has been misunderstood. I offer it, too, to my son's friend."

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Nic looked dull the next day, but he brightened up when his father
proposed that they should ride a part of the way with Mayne, who was
going to take some despatches to Government House, where for the present
he was to stay.

"You see, Nic, it will be better," the governor said. "The poor fellow
would be miserable here with his old fellow-servants. So I have
arranged for him to go and wait till I come. His story's true enough,
and I shall see that everything is done for him before he goes back to
England--to take his old position, I hope."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

But Frank Mayne had no such ideas. England was dead to him, and he was
content to stay. And to Nic's delight, his friend received a grant of
land some ten miles away, close to the great gorge, where the boy spent
all the time he could, watching the erection of the house by convict
labour; for in this Mayne was helped largely by Sir john, while the
doctor had become one of his firmest supporters.

Of course Frank Mayne had formed a very warm attachment to the lad, who
had believed in him from the first; but Lady O'Hara used to laugh and
joke, and say _she knew_, though she never said what it was she knew.
Time, however, gave the explanation, about two years later Mayne had
received a free pardon from his Majesty the King, "for suffering a great
deal and nearly being driven mad," as Nic said.

But Frank Mayne said he was very happy and quite content, and we need
not go into the causes of his content, especially since every one, from
Lady O'Hara and Mrs Braydon downwards, was in the same way of thinking.

"Besides, Mr Mayne, it was worth it all, sure," said Lady O'Hara
banteringly at the wedding. "Now don't you think so, Nic?"

"Of course I do?"

"Then that's right," cried the lady. "But tell me, Nic, how long is it
since I brought you out?"

"I don't know," said Nic.

"Too busy; but about three years. Look at that now, and him grown quite
a man."

"Yes," said the doctor, "farmer, cattle raiser, squatter."

"Yes," said Mayne, laying his hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder.
"One of the first in the field, and my true friend."

THE END.

End of Project Gutenberg's First in the Field, by George Manville Fenn

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