He was expecting, with almost feverish impatience, a letter from the firm in answer to his own report, with details of the disaster at Tarnpirr. And when at length it arrived, after what seemed a long delay, and he found that, instead of the reproaches and curt dismissal he was prepared for, it contained sympathy and an appointment to a large station on the Darling Downs, words were wanting to express his utter astonishment, and his deep contrition for the bad opinion he had formed of his employers. ‘Never mind, Daisy,’ he cried. ‘They say the owner will be there himself to receive us on our arrival. I can thank him then in person.’ ‘Dear me, how nice that will be!’ replied Daisy, demurely. ‘And, only fancy,’ he went on, ‘they request us to take our servant—that’s Bridget, of course—with us! I’m to find out, too, if those carriers lost much, and, if so, to compensate them.’ ‘How very good and thoughtful they must be,’ answered Daisy—but this time with moist eyes. I will not insult the reader’s penetration by asking him to guess who the owner of that Downs station was. It will be sufficient to remark that Mr and Mrs Fortescue have only just returned from their wedding trip to the Continent; and that it will be very long indeed ere they forget that memorable night in ’90 upon which the waters came to Tarnpirr, and caused ‘Barton’s Jackaroo’ to show what he was made of. TOLD IN THE ‘CORONA’S’ CABIN. ON THREE EVENINGS. =The First Evening.= In the south-east trades, and the big ship moving steadily through the water with every sail full. Not a quiver of the tightly-strained canvas, not the rattle of a reef-point, broke the stillness aloft. A glorious evening in the South Atlantic, with the sun setting, as is often his wont in those latitudes, in a bed of crimson, gold and amethyst. The passengers, who had been watching the many-hued passing of the day-king, went below as the cool night breeze began to whistle with a shriller note through the top-hamper and the water to swish more loudly along the sides, and fall back with a louder plop. Very comfortable, snug, and home-like the _Corona’s_ cabin looked. It was a cabin, remember, not a ‘saloon.’ There was nothing of the modern curse of varnish and veneer about it. Everything was handsome, also substantial, from the dark mahogany casing of the mizzen-mast to the highly polished, solid panelling of rosewood, relieved with only a narrow gold beading. The cabin might aptly have been termed a study in brown and gold, so predominant was this combination. Even the curtains in front of each berth door were of brown damask, with gold fringe. The general effect, if a little sombre, was good.