Produced by Darleen Dove, Shannon Barker, Matthew Wheaton and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) A MERE CHANCE. A NOVEL. BY ADA CAMBRIDGE, AUTHOR OF "IN TWO YEARS TIME," &c. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON, Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 1882. _Right of Translation Reserved._ CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. CHAPTER I.--Another Rash Promise II.--The Beginning of Troubles III.--"Where there was never Need of Vows." IV.--After the Ball V.--Rachel's First Visit in Melbourne VI.--In Mrs. Hardy's Store-room VII.--"He Has Come Back" VIII.--"The Light that never was on Sea or Land" IX.--Eleven p.m. X.--Mrs. Reade's Advice XI.--Until Christmas XII.--"The Ground-Whirl of the Perished Leaves of Hope" XIII.--Rachel on the Philosophy of Marriage A MERE CHANCE. CHAPTER I. ANOTHER RASH PROMISE. Mr. Kingston, as soon as he received Mrs. Thornley's invitation, sent a telegram to her nearest post-town, to tell her he would start for Adelonga on the following day, and await at the inn where he left the railway the buggy she was kind enough to say should be sent to meet him. There was much amusement at Adelonga over this unwonted promptitude on the part of an idle and self-indulgent man, who had never been known to hurry himself, or to go into the country willingly; and Rachel was teased in fun and congratulated in earnest on the strong hold she had gained upon his erewhile erratic affections. The buggy was ordered at once--Mr. Thornley's own pet Abbott buggy, that floated over the rough roads--and a pet pair of horses were harnessed into it, and another pair sent forward to change with them on the way, and Mr. Thornley himself set forth to meet his guest. Next day Lucilla ordered one of her best rooms--usually reserved for married ladies--to be prepared for him, and had great consultations with her cook on his behalf; and at about five in the afternoon he arrived, wrapped in a fur-collared overcoat, like a traveller in bleak and barren regions, and had a royal welcome. Lucilla, followed by her mother, went out to the verandah to meet her old friend--though, indeed, she never willingly omitted that graceful act of hospitality, whoever might be her guest--and was delighted to receive again the same old compliment on her charming appearance that had pleasantly befooled her in her maiden days. Mrs. Hardy was likewise greeted with effusion, and responded cordially; and then they all looked round. "Where is Rachel?" inquired Mr. Kingston, with anxious solicitude; "isn't she well?"