“Well, to Melbourne we got at last, and a shabby place I thought it looked; but the worst of all was, that such wages as had been spoken of in the papers were not to be had at all, for if ever the folk there are in great want of anything, there seems to be abundance of it before it can be sent out; so I could not get the offer of more than thirteen pounds, and I mourned over the distance, and the five months lost on the passage, with such small advantage at the end of it.  I said I wanted a hard place.  I had no objections to go to the bush—­I dreaded neither natives, nor snakes, nor bushrangers, but I behoved to make good wages.  I was explaining this at the Agency Labour Office, when a gentleman came in—­an Englishman I knew him to be by his tongue—­and he said——­

“‘Like all new comers, this young woman is greedy of filthy lucre.’

“‘I have come here to better my condition,’ said I.

“‘And so you will, in time,’ said the gentleman, ’but you must not expect a fortune all at once.’

“‘Are you in want of a servant, sir?’ said I.

“‘Very much; but I don’t know that you will suit me.’

“‘I’m thinking,’ said I, ’that if the mistress were to see me she would be of a different opinion, sir.’

“’Very likely she would.  I dare say Mrs. Brandon would highly approve of you.  Perhaps, after all, you will do.  What are you?’

“‘Plain cook, laundress, and dairymaid,’ said I.

“‘Age?  Mrs. Brandon would like to know.’

“‘Twenty-five.  I have got five years’ character from one place, and three from another, and a testimonial from the minister.  I may look rough, with just being off the sea, sir, but I think the mistress will find out that I am fit for any kind of work.  I am not afraid of work or distance, or solitude, or anything.’

“‘You are a trump,’ said he, ’a regular brick; but confess that you are greedy.  If I say thirty pounds a year, you will go more than a hundred miles up the country?’ That was a great distance from town in those days, Miss Jean, though they think nothing of it now.  All my fellow-passengers objected to such distances, but I had no objection.

“‘Yes, sir,’ said I, cheerfully, ’I will go, and be much beholden to you for the offer.’

“‘And start to-morrow, wages to commence then?’ said he.

“‘The sooner the better,’ said I.  ’Only, if I want to send siller to my friends I may not be able to do it from such a wild place.’

“‘I will manage all that for you,’ said the gentleman.  ’I am accustomed to do it for one of my shepherds.  But recollect you will have to do a great deal of work for your high wages.  The cows are wild, and must be bailed up and foot-roped.  You may get an ugly kick or butt’——­

“’As if I had never seen Highland kyloes!  I am not at all feared.  Providence will protect me on land, as it has protected me by water.  After five months of the sea, with only a plank between me and eternity, you cannot terrify me with kye.’