“You ungrateful wretch!” ejaculated the harridan, furiously. “When I had but a morsel of bread to give you, did I ever take a portion for myself! For you, Perdita,” she continued, speaking in a milder and even more tender tone,--“for you I have gone through sufferings unknown and unheard of in this country,--for you have I toiled beneath the scorching South Australian sun of summer, and amidst the noisome damps of a South Australian winter! Yes--for years and years have I toiled on--toiled on, that your beauty might not be impaired by want or privation,--at least that you might endure as little want and privation as possible.” “Well--well,” cried the young woman, somewhat softened by her mother’s words; “don’t let us look back to the past. We are now in England--and you say that we are not many miles from London. Good! We will endeavour to sustain each other’s courage and strength to reach the fine city where you hope to change our rags into silks and satins, and fill our empty pockets with gold.” “Yes--and you shall see whether I have deceived you, Perdita!” exclaimed the harridan, in a tone partaking of enthusiasm. “Nearly nineteen years have elapsed since I last saw the mighty metropolis; and, unless its people be much changed, there is a fortune to be made by an experienced woman and a beautiful girl, leagued together.” “And you are the experienced woman, mother?” said Perdita, actually seeking a compliment--for inordinate vanity was amongst her failings. “Yes--and you are the beautiful girl--and you know it,” returned the old harridan. “Being of accord as we are together, it is impossible that we can fail to accomplish our grand designs. Why was it that I implored you not to accept the offers of marriage which needy settlers made you in New South Wales? Because your charms can command thousands of pounds in London; whereas, in that frightful colony, all you could have hoped to gain was what is termed ‘_a comfortable position_.’ And to one possessing your notions--your pride--your strong passions--your soaring disposition,--aye, and to one endowed with your loveliness too,--a mere _home_ is not sufficient. You require luxuries--although you have never yet tasted them,--fine clothes--although you have never yet worn them,--a splendid equipage, although you have never yet known the use of one! It was for this that I brought you to England,--it was for this that I besought you to contract no marriage in the colony,--it was for this that I conjured you to abstain from any connexion that might become permanent!”