determined upon
what course he should pursue. But he never renewed his attempts on the
virtue of Mrs. Herrets, and when next we heard of him he was in the
mines of Bathney, where he was killed by the caving in of a shaft.

As for Herrets and his wife, they took our advice, and moved to
Melbourne, where there was society and enjoyment. The husband went into
business there, and became quite wealthy; and Mrs. Herrets was noted for
her lively disposition and fondness of company. She became a patron of
the Theatre Royal, and gave many a hungry actor a good dinner; and once,
when I had run down to Melbourne from the mines, to transact a little
business, she sent me a pressing invitation to visit the theatre, and
witness her _debut_ in the "Honeymoon," she playing "Juliana," for the
benefit of some actor who wished to insure a good house, and took that
method to accomplish it.

I accepted the invitation, but did not consider her acting as likely to
redound to the credit of the profession; and that is the end of the
history, so far as my knowledge extends, of Mrs. Herrets and husband.

CHAPTER XLVII.

COLLECTING TAXES OF THE MINERS.

About a week after the inspector had received his injuries, he was
enabled to get out, and one afternoon he sent word that if we were
desirous of accompanying him on his tax collecting expedition he should
be happy of our company, and that if we were disposed to go we had
better meet him at his office, on horseback, at two o'clock.

As it was near the hour when we received the invitation, we lost no time
in getting ready, and we were on the spot promptly.

About, thirty policemen were drawn up in front of the office, awaiting
the appearance of the inspector, who was examining the books in which
were recorded the names of the tax-paying miners, checking those who had
refused to pay at the end of the previous month, and placing a cross
against the names of miners who had worked out their taxes on the road,
on the ground that they had not made enough out of their claims to allow
government the large sum of thirty-four shillings per month.

The tax applied to all, and there was no chance to evade it. The
fortunate and unfortunate were alike liable to the officers of the
crown, knowing no distinction, so they said; but I found before the
close of the day that that assertion was a fallacy, and that there was a
favorite class at Ballarat, and that they were rarely troubled by the
inspecto