A lean long-legged clever-looking fellow, rather wide at the knees, with a brown complexion, and not unpleasant expression of face, stood before the door plaiting a cracker for his stockwhip. He looked pleased when he saw Sam, and indeed it must be a surly fellow indeed, who did not greet Sam's honest phiz with a smile. Never a dog but wagged his tail when he caught Sam's eye. "You're abroad early this morning, sir," said the man; "nothing the matter; is there, sir?" "Nothing," said Sam, "save that one of Captain Brentwood's bulls is missing, and I came out to tell you to have an extra look round." "I'll attend to it, sir." "Hi! Matt," said Sam, "you look uncommonly smart." Matt bent down his head, and laughed, in a rather sheepish sort of way. "Well, you see, sir, I was coming into the home station to see if the Major could spare me for a few days." "What, going a courting, eh? Well, I'll make that all right for you. Who is the lady,--eh?" "Why, its Elsy Macdonald, I believe." "Elsy Macdonald!" said Sam. "Ay, yes, sir. I know what you mean, but she ain't like her sister; and that was more Mr. Charles Hawker's fault than her own. No; Elsy is good enough for me, and I'm not very badly off, and begin to fancy I would like some better sort of welcome in the evening than what a cranky old brute of a hutkeeper can give me. So I think I shall bring her home." "I wish you well, Matt," said Sam; "I hope you are not going to leave us though." "No fear, sir; Major Buckley is too good a master for that!" "Well, I'll get the hut coopered up a bit for you, and you shall be as comfortable as circumstances will permit. Good morning." "Good morning, sir; I hope I may see you happily married yourself some of these days." Sam laughed, "that would be a fine joke," he thought, "but why shouldn't it be, eh? I suppose it must come some time or another. I shall begin to look out; I don't expect I shall be very easily suited. Heigh ho!" I expect, however, Mr. Sam, that you are just in the state of mind to fall headlong in love with the first girl you meet with a nose on her face; let us hope, therefore, that she may be eligible. But here is home again, and here is the father standing majestic and broad in the verandah, and the mother with her arm round his neck, both waiting to give him a hearty morning's welcome. And there is Doctor Mulhaus kneeling in spectacles before his new Grevillea Victoria, the first bud of which is just bursting into life; and the dogs catch sight of him and dash forward, barking joyfully; and as the ready groom takes his horse, and the fat housekeeper looks out all smiles, and retreats to send in breakfast, Sam thinks to himself, that he could not leave his home and people, not for the best wife in broad Australia; but then you see, he knew no better.