d already ride
after the cattle with as much boldness as his elder brothers. Tommy,
the youngest, it must be acknowledged, was inclined to be a pickle.
Effie patronised him, and did her best to keep him out of mischief, and
he, in most instances, followed her precepts; though, as yet, he had
done very little towards making himself useful, nor had he made any
great strides in book-learning.

The captain and Mrs Berrington had felt the difficulty of educating
their children, and had resolved to send the elder boys and girls to a
school at Sydney or Melbourne, when the captain, while on a journey,
happened to stop at a shepherd's hut towards night to obtain shelter
from a storm which was coming on. The hut-keeper was a rough-looking
fellow, and the captain fully expected to find the shepherd the same
description of person. The sheep having been folded, the shepherd
entered the hut. What, then, was Captain Berrington's surprise to find
himself addressed in a tone and manner which showed that the speaker was
a gentleman and a person of education, as he proved by his conversation,
while the small but well-chosen library on a shelf above his bunk, and a
copy of Horace which he took from his pocket, showed that the rough life
he led did not prevent him from still indulging in the pleasures of
literature.

He had gone through his course at the university, and had intended
entering one of the learned professions, when he was obliged to visit
Australia for his health. During his absence from home, he heard that
every penny of the property he possessed was lost; and unable, after
frequent attempts, to obtain employment in the cities, he had, as a last
resource, been induced to go into the bush and turn shepherd, hoping
ultimately, by the knowledge he would gain, to be able to take some
superior situation on an estate. He, however, confessed that he was
heartily weary of the life which, it was evident, was rendered doubly
disagreeable by the character of his mate, although he uttered no
complaint against the man. The term of service for which he had engaged
was just about to expire, and Captain Berrington, much pleased with him,
invited him, as soon as he should be at liberty, to come to Stratton.
In the meantime he made all the inquiries in his power about Mr
Hayward, and was satisfied of the truth of the account he gave of
himself. Mr Martin Hayward was not only a scholar and a gentleman, but
was a fair artist, and posse