ewastosavefromthewicked,red-shirtedbushrangers.Forhewasnottoremainasailor,orasupercargo,orwhateverhewasgoingtobe.Oh,no!Asailorsexistencewasdreadful.Fancybeingcoopedupinahorridship,withthehoarse,hump-backedwavestryingtogetin,andabladblowisdownandtearingthesailsintolongscreamingribands!HewastoleavethevesselatMelbourne,bidapolitegood-byetothecaptain,andgooffatohegold-fields.Beforeaweekwasoverhewastoeacrossalargeold,thelargesthathadeverbeendiscovered,andbringitdowntothecoastinawaggonguardedbysixmountedpoli.Thebushrangersweretoattackthemthreetimes,andbedefeatedwithimmenseslaughter.Or,no.Hewasnottogotothegold-fieldsatall.Theywerehorridplaces,wheremengotintoxicated,andshoteachotherinbar-rooms,andusedbadlanguage.Hewastobeanicesheep-farmer,andoneevening,ashewasridinghome,hewastoseethebeautifulheiressbeingcarriedoffbyarobberonablackhorse,andgivechase,andrescueher.Ofcourse,shewouldfallihhim,ahher,andtheywouldgetmarried,andehome,andliveinanimmensehouseinLondohereweredelightfulthingsinstoreforhim.Buthemustbeverygood,andnotlosehistemper,orspendhismoneyfoolishly.Shewasonlyayearolderthanhewas,butsheknewsomuchmoreoflife.Hemustbesure,also,towritetoherbyeverymail,andtosayhisprayerseaightbeforehewenttosleep.Godwasverygood,andwouldwatchoverhim.Shewouldprayforhim,too,andinafewyearshewouldebackquiteridhappy.

    Theladlistenedsulkilytoherandmadenoanswer.Hewasheart-sickatleavinghome.

    Yetitwasnotthisalomadehimgloomyandmorose.Inexperiehoughhewas,hehadstillastrongsehedangerofSibylsposition.Th