s. A noise in the next room was
engaging Polly's whole attention. She heard a burr of suppressed
laughter, a scuffle and what sounded like a sharp slap. Jumping up she
went to the door, and was just in time to see Ellen whisk out of the
dining-room.

Ned sat in an armchair, with his feet on the chimney-piece. "I had the
girl bring in a log, Poll," he said; and looked back and up at his
sister with his cheery smile. Standing behind him, Polly laid her hand
on his hair. "I'll go and see after the tea." Ned was so unconcerned
that she hesitated to put a question.

In the kitchen she had no such tender scruples; nor was she imposed on
by the exaggerated energy with which Ellen bustled about. "What was
that noise I heard in the dining-room just now?" she demanded.

"Noise? I dunno," gave back the girl crossly without facing her.

"Nonsense, Ellen! Do you think I didn't hear?"

"Oh, get along with you! It was only one of Ned's jokes." And going on
her knees, Ellen set to scrubbing the brick floor with a hiss and a
scratch that rendered speech impossible. Polly took up the laden
tea-tray and carried it into the dining-room. Richard had come home,
and the four drew chairs to the table.

Mahony had a book with him; he propped it open against the
butter-cooler, and snatched sentences as he ate. It fell to Ned to keep
the ball rolling. Polly was distraite to the point of going wrong in
her sugars; Jerry uneasy at the prospect of coming in conflict with his
brother-in-law, whom he thought the world of.

Ned was as full of talk as an egg of meat. The theme he dwelt longest
on was the new glory that lay in store for the Ballarat diggings. At
present these were under a cloud. The alluvial was giving out, and the
costs and difficulties of boring through the rock seemed insuperable.
One might hear the opinion freely expressed that Ballarat's day as
premier goldfield was done. Ned set up this belief merely for the
pleasure of demolishing it. He had it at first hand that great
companies were being formed to carry on operations. These would reckon
their areas in acres instead of feet, would sink to a depth of a
quarter of a mile or more, raise washdirt in hundreds of tons per day.
One such company, indeed, had already sprung into existence, out on
Golden Point; and now was the time to nip in. If he, Ned, had the
brass, or knew anybody who'd lend it to him, he'd buy up all the shares
he could get. Those who followed his lead would m