round any better'n this! I always thought you were an
irreclaimable mug, but I expected better things of you towards the end.
I thought I'd make _something_ of you. It's enough to dishearten any man
and disgust him with the world. Why! you ought to be a rich man now with
the chances and training you had! To think--but I won't talk of that; it
has made me ill. I suppose I'll have to give you something, if it's only
to get rid of the sight of you. Here's a quid, and I'm a mug for giving
it to you. It'll do you more harm than good; and it ain't a friendly
thing nor the right thing for me--who always had your welfare at
heart--to give it to you under the circumstances. Now, get away out of
my sight, and don't come near me till you've reformed. If you do, I'll
have to stoush you out of regard for my own health and feelings."

But Steelman came down in the world again and picked up Smith on the
road, and they battled round together for another year or so; and at
last they were in Wellington--Steelman "flush" and stopping at an hotel,
and Smith stumped, as usual, and staying with a friend. One night they
were drinking together at the hotel, at the expense of some mugs whom
Steelman was "educating." It was raining hard. When Smith was going
home, he said:

"Look here, Steely, old man. Listen to the rain! I'll get wringing wet
going home. You might as well lend me your overcoat to-night. You won't
want it, and I won't hurt it."

And, Steelman's heart being warmed by his successes, he lent the
overcoat.

Smith went and pawned it, got glorious on the proceeds, and took the
pawn-ticket to Steelman next day.

Smith had reformed.

AN UNFINISHED LOVE STORY

Brook let down the heavy, awkward sliprails, and the gaunt cattle
stumbled through, with aggravating deliberation, and scattered slowly
among the native apple-trees along the sidling. First there came an
old easygoing red poley cow, then a dusty white cow; then two shaggy,
half-grown calves--who seemed already to have lost all interest in
existence--and after them a couple of "babies," sleek, glossy, and
cheerful; then three more tired-looking cows, with ragged udders
and hollow sides; then a lanky barren heifer--red, of course--with
half-blind eyes and one crooked horn--she was noted for her great
agility in jumping two-rail fences, and she was known to the selector as
"Queen Elizabeth;" and behind her came a young cream-coloured milker--a
mighty proud and con