pass for diggers anywhere.

'Why, we were all dining at the Commissioner's yesterday,' he said,
'when who should walk in but our old friend Goring. He's been made
inspector now; and, of course, he's a great swell and a general
favourite. The Commissioner knew his family at home, and makes no end of
fuss about him. He left for the Southern district, I am glad to say.
I felt queer, I must say; but, of course, I didn't show it. We
were formally introduced. He caught me with that sudden glance of
his--devilish sharp eyes, he has--and looks me full in the face.

'"I don't remember your name, Mr. Haughton," said he; "but your face
seems familiar to me somehow. I can't think where I've met you before."

'"Must have been at the Melbourne Club," says I, pulling my moustache.
"Met a heap of Sydney people there."

'"Perhaps so," says he. "I used to go and lunch there a good deal. I had
a month's leave last month, just after I got my step. Curious it seems,
too," says he; "I can't get over it."

'"Fill your glass and pass the claret," says the Commissioner. "Faces
are very puzzling things met in a different state of existence. I don't
suppose Haughton's wanted, eh, Goring?"

'This was held to be a capital joke, and I laughed too in a way that
would have made my fortune on the stage. Goring laughed too, and seemed
to fear he'd wounded my feelings, for he was most polite all the rest of
the evening.'

'Well, if HE didn't smoke you,' says Jim, 'we're right till the Day of
Judgment. There's no one else here that's half a ghost of a chance to
swear to us.'

'Except,' says I----

'Oh! Kate?' says Jim; 'never mind her. Jeanie's coming up to be married
to me next month, and Kate's getting so fond of you again that there's
no fear of her letting the cat out.'

'That's the very reason. I never cared two straws about her, and now
I hate the sight of her. She's a revengeful devil, and if she takes it
into her head she'll turn on us some fine day as sure as we're alive.'

'Don't you believe it,' says Jim; 'women are not so bad as all that.'
('Are they not?' says Starlight.) 'I'll go bail we'll be snug and
safe here till Christmas, and then we'll give out, say we're going to
Melbourne for a spree, and clear straight out.'

Chapter 28

As everything looked so fair-weather-like, Jim and Jeanie made it up to
be married as soon after she came up as he could get a house ready. She
came up to Sydney, first by sea and after th