“I saw about it in the papers,” said Mrs. Peck, endeavouring to subdue her delight and exultation at the idea of the girls she wished so much to come in contact with being so near her as Melbourne.  “I took a great interest in it.  I like these romances of real life.  And so, Mrs. Phillips is up, and these girls are down, and glad to eat the bitter bread of service.  It is very amusing.  Was Mrs. Phillips much taken up with them on account of their misfortunes?”

“I do not know,” said Mr. Dempster, drily.  “If you have served Mrs. Phillips you will know that she is not the same at all times.”

“Then there was a large party of them on board; a servant, no doubt, and these two Melville girls, and the children?” said Mrs. Peck.

“There was also a sister of Mr. Phillips’s—­rather a fine woman, too—­come out on a visit.”

“And a fine lady, too, I dare say,” said Mrs. Peck.  “Mr. Phillips holds his head pretty high.  I warrant his sister and Mrs. Phillips would have some sparring.  And the children are good-looking, I suppose?  I saw none of them since the first was a baby.  What are they like?”

“They are very pretty children, and getting on well with their studies.  The eldest Miss Melville is the most thoroughly cultivated woman I ever saw.”

“Oh, leave Cross Hall alone for that,” said Mrs. Peck.  “He was always crazy about education, and that sort of thing.”

“Cross Hall!” said Mr. Dempster.  “I suppose you will say next that you know Francis Hogarth, of Cross Hall, member of Parliament for the Swinton burghs?”

“Member of Parliament, too!” said Mrs. Peck, with the same subdued fierceness as when she first took Mr. Dempster up about the Melvilles.  “Member of Parliament!  Ungrateful dog!” she said, under her breath; but her expression of vindictiveness was not altogether lost on Mr. Dempster.  “Oh yes!  I know him; or at least I know all about him.  Nobody did know anything of him till he came into the property, you know; but I really know more about him than most folks.  There are some people that would give their ears to know what I do; but there is a saying in the north, where I was born, ‘Least said is soonest mended;’ at any rate, least said to them as it don’t concern.”

“If I had you at a seance”, said Mr. Dempster, “I could get all your secrets out of you, whether you liked it or not.  Yes, Mrs. Frankland, I really could.”

“I don’t think it can be right,” said the timid hostess, who, though she was very fond of hearing the news, preferred to get them from living persons and not disembodied spirits.  “Mrs. Peck, you are taking nothing.”

“I got bad news just before tea, and that took away my appetite; but I have got over that now, so I’ll trouble you for a mutton chop, Mr. Dempster, and Peck, just pass me the pickles, and be good enough to give me a hot cup of tea, Mrs. Frankland, for this one is as cold as a stone;” so Mrs. Peck felt inclined to make up for lost time, and made a very hearty supper.  She wound up with two glasses of brandy-and-water hot, and she got Peck out of the way, for she wished to have a quiet talk with Mr. Dempster.