between the desire for display and style, and the love of money, makes many women at once fastidious and unscrupulous.  To Brandon, Harriett Phillips’s conduct appeared ill-bred and mean; he could not help contrasting her with Elsie Melvlle, and acknowledging that the latter was the real gentlewoman.  He began also to observe a certain imperiousness in Harriett’s manner to Elsie herself, which struck him as being particularly ungraceful, and the old pity began to reawake the old love.  He had sometimes wished to speak to Alice just a few words to show that he had not been offended or piqued at her refusal, but never had had any opportunity, and on this occasion Miss Harriett did not seem disposed to give him any.

At last, after being in several shops, and turning over innumerable boxes of ribbons, laces, blondes, flowers, &c., all was purchased that was required, and even Miss Phillips was perfectly satisfied with the selection she had made.

“Oh, dear!” said she, looking at her watch, “how late it is!  I quite intended to be in time for luncheon, for we started so early.  Morning is always the best time for shopping—­at least, I find I am better attended to then.  But we are too late, and Mrs. Phillips will not wait for us.  We had better have something to eat here, for I am very hungry—­so, Mr. Brandon, I trust you to find some place where we can make a comfortable luncheon; I have no doubt you know the best restaurateur, and afterwards you will get us a cab to go home in.  I like to make gentlemen useful when I take them shopping with me.”

“I am quite at your service,” said Brandon, “for, as I said before, I have nothing particular to do.”

“That is taking all the grace out of your gallantry,” said Miss Phillips, “but if you acquit yourself well, I will forgive you that impolite speech.”

Brandon did as he was desired—­took the ladies to a fashionable restaurateur’s, asked them what they would like, and ordered and paid for a very good and very expensive luncheon.  Then he brought a cab, and accompanied them home.

“I really wish my brother could keep a carriage of his own,” said Miss Phillips.  “That is one of the few extravagances I quite sympathize with Mrs. Phillips in her desire for.  It is so disagreeable to have to trust to these hired conveyances.  One does not know who may have been in them before, and might catch fever or something of that kind.”

“Perhaps one might,” said Brandon, “though it never entered my head to think of such disagreeable things.  But then I have never been accustomed to ride in a carriage of my own.  Riding on horseback was my only means of locomotion at Barragong; and Melbourne, up to this time, has no such luxury for ordinary people as a hackney-coach stand, so that I cannot help being surprised at the cheapness and convenience of cabbing it in London.  Whereas both of you ladies have been accustomed to private carriages, and must feel this very inferior.”