the stern, inflexible Rhadamanthus whom she had pictured in her imaginings of the terrible 'Launceston Mac.' When the evening came to an end--not particularly early, it must be confessed--and the piano and whist table were succeeded by a modest but very cheerful supper, Estelle came to the conclusion that she had never seen so many entertaining, cultured, and, in a sense, distinguished people gathered together in one small room in her life. That it should be her experience in this curious corner of the remote antipodes was the crowning marvel of the whole. * * * * * Melbourne again! which--so accommodating is our mental to our bodily vision--seemed quite a small London after Ballarat and Growlers'. Mrs. Vernon, who was just about organising one of her regular winter parties, hailed Estelle's arrival with unaffected joy. This was rather dashed when she understood her guest's intention to depart for Omeo at the earliest possible moment. If the truth must be told, she considered the discovery of Lance's abiding-place at Omeo to be an unalloyed misfortune. This view of the case was of course unexpressed, out of deference to Estelle's feelings, who made it--the announcement--with such unfeigned pleasure that her hostess could not, for pity's sake, forbear the conventional words of sympathy. 'But, my dear, you cannot possibly go to that dreadful Omeo at present, if indeed at all. It was only yesterday that I heard Mr. Vernon telling some young man (a young man, my dear!) that he advised him to wait till the winter was nearly over before he started for Omeo, as the roads were positively dangerous.' 'I will wait any reasonable time, and I shall certainly be guided by Mr. Vernon's kind advice,' the girl said; 'but I am resolved to reach Omeo before the spring.' '"A wilful woman,"' quoted the old lady, '"must, I suppose, have her way," like a wilful man, but I am charmed to see that you recognise the propriety of consulting Mr. Vernon. He has business relations with Omeo--what they are I have not the faintest idea--mining requisites, I presume--everything from picks and shovels to pianos and cornopeans--so that he will know how to manage the transport service for you. And now, my dear, come and see your room.'