"Ay, she grows," said the father; "and we begin to want to see her married and settled, eh, Mr Bray?" Kate Lee's face crimsoned, and she darted an appealing look to her mother, one not misinterpreted by the other visitor, who assumed not to have heard his host's remark. But farther remark was checked by a boisterous "Hillo!" a horse cantered up to the door, and Edward Murray, flushed and heated, sprang to the ground, to fold Kate Lee in his arms in an instant, and then heartily salute the rest of the family. "Couldn't overtake you, Mr Meadows," said the young sailor, "though I saw your old umbrella bobbing down the valley like a travelling mushroom." "There, parson, there's no best bed for you to-night," said the settler. "The woman-kind worship this fellow, and you'll only come off second best." "I can be happy anywhere," said Mr Meadows. "Don't incommode yourselves for me." Meanwhile it needed no interpreter to tell of the intimacy between Edward Murray and Kate Lee. A love the growth of years--the love that had induced him to quit the navy; for he had felt unable to settle when old Lee had left his native town, driven by misfortunes to settle in one of the colonies, New Zealand being his choice, where now, after some years' hard fight with difficulties, he was living a wealthy, patriarchal life in this pleasant valley. So Edward Murray had found no difficulty in getting appointed to a trader, which, however little in accordance with his tastes, took him at least once a year to where he could visit the Lees in their new home. At first, old Lee did not evince much pleasure at the sight of the young man, for he had seen Anthony Bray's dark visage grow more dark as he tugged at his handkerchief, and then, after a vain attempt at showing his nonchalance, he rose hastily and quitted the place, followed by the eyes of Mr Meadows, who generally contrived to see all, and to interpret things pretty correctly. And he made few mistakes in the conclusions he had that evening arrived at; for, but that very afternoon, Anthony Bray had, after months of unsuccessful wooing, asked the maiden to be his wife, but only to meet with an unconditional refusal; for Katie Lee possessed a faith not shared by both her parents, and it was with a triumphant joy in her bright eyes that she took her place quietly by Edward Murray's side, as he told of his long and stormy travels since he met them a year ago. "And when did you get into the bay?" inquired old Lee. "Only last night," said the young man. "Then you have lost little time," said Mr Meadows. "Well, no," said the other simply. "I wanted to get here, and see what I've been thinking about for the last twelve months;" and he turned to Katie, whose eyes met his for an instant, and then fell as her colour heightened.