"Very likely. Born amid the effete civilization of a worn-out land, you have no knowledge of our glorious institutions, which render Australia the Paradise of Demos." "Sounds like a Parliamentary speech." "It is a Parliamentary speech," asserted Victoria, demurely, "an effort of my father's when he was elected for the Wooloomooloo constituency." "I beg your pardon, would you mind spelling it?" "No you would be none the wiser if I did." "As to my obeying you," said Otterburn, reverting to the earlier part of the conversation, "I think the opposite is more likely to happen." Dangerous ground again. "Mr. Macjean," said Victoria in a solemn tone, "the night is getting on to morning, the tourists are getting off to bed. You are chattering in a most nonsensical manner and I'm going to retire, so good-night." He did not make any effort to retain her, although he felt very much inclined to do so, but then their friendship was still in its infancy and the proprieties must be observed. "Good-night, and happy dreams," he replied, shaking the hand she held out to him. "Thank you, but I leave that to poets--and lovers," she responded, and thereupon vanished like a fairy vision of eternal youth. And lovers. "Now I wonder--oh, nonsense! What rubbish! I've only known her one circle of the clock; Love isn't Jonah's gourd to spring up in a night. Still--well she's a most delightful girl and I--Confound the valse! I do wish they'd stop playing at this hour. It isn't respectable. Awfully pretty!--and she's a Macjean too--ah, if I--bother, it's gone out. I shan't smoke any more. I wonder where Gartney is. Mooning about by himself, I suppose. I'll go and look him up. She's got lovely eyes and such pretty feet. Eh! oh, here's Eustace--I say Gartney, I'm going to bed. Come and have a hock and seltzer before ta-ta." CHAPTER VI. A DAY'S SHOPPING. "'Tis an Italian town, Almost a city yet not metropolitan wholly. Houses red-roofed, white-walled, lofty in height with iron balconies, Narrow and twisted the streets, with rough irregular pavements: Below are the shops with their awnings o'er windows, filled with gaudy wares we see not in England, Amid which stand the shop-keepers, shrill-voiced, thievish, voluble and smiling. 'Questo è troopo? 'Non e molto'--question and answer and question once more, While in the burning sunshine, in nooks, in corners, in courts, in door-ways, Lie the dark shadows, fit for the hiding of lovers, of bravos, of damsels and men-at-arms ruffianly." Relations were rather strained between Eustace and his young friend, the reason being as usual to be found in the unconquerable selfishness of the former. With his habitual egotism, Gartney insisted that the lad whom he had chosen for a friend should attend solely to him, watch his every action with dog-like fidelity, and have nothing to do with the rest of the world.