“Their father was always very much taken up with these lassies—­Emily used to be like the apple of his eye; and the mistress is too lazy to cross them either, I’m thinking,” said Peggy.

“Just so.  If Miss Melville’s preaching in season or out of season can give her a little more sense, I think Phillips will be all the better for it.  She can keep house, admirably, you say; and that she is able to teach, these children’s books testify.  Tell Miss Melville to delay her resolution about the dressmaking till I communicate with Phillips, which I will do by to-day’s post.  He is talking of coming up to the north shortly, principally to visit you, I think, so he may see her, and can judge for himself.  Your account of the young lady seems everything that can be desired, and Mr. Phillips has such a high opinion of your judgment that your recommendation will carry great weight.”

“He’ll bring Emily with him to see me,” said Peggy.  “Tell him to be sure and bring Emily with him.  I cannot ask you to take pot-luck with us.”

“No, I thank you; I have just breakfasted.  I do not keep such early hours as I did at Barragong.  We turn night into day in these lands of civilization, and for a change it is remarkably pleasant.  But how do you take to Scotch fare after Australia?” asked Mr. Brandon, eyeing with astonishment the infinitesimal piece of meat which made the family broth.

“I did not take quite kindly to the porridge at first, and missed the meat that we used to have in such abundance; but use is second nature, and though I whiles look back with regret to the flesh-pots of Egypt, I have my strength, and I have some prospect of getting back to the land of wastrie and extravagance, as I aye used to say it was at Barragong; and Mr. Phillips’s place, at Wiriwilta, was worse still.  And Mr. Phillips has made his fortune with all that waste, and with all his liberality, and a foolish wife, and an expensive family, and is living in London like a gentleman as he is,” said Peggy.  “And you really think he would be glad to have Miss Jean?”

“I have not a doubt of it; but good-bye for the present.  I hear your youngsters rattling upstairs.  I will see you again ere long, and must get better acquainted with them.  Good-bye, sir,” said Mr. Brandon, to Thomas Lowrie, who having never been called either Mr. or Sir in his life before, was lost in astonishment at the remarkably fine manners of Peggy’s old master.

“A very civil-spoken gentleman, Peggy,” said he.  “It must have been a pleasure to serve a gentleman of such politeness.”

“What a pity,” said Peggy to herself, “that I ever should have told the young ladies that daft-like story about me and the master.  I wish I had bitten my tongue out first.  But who was to think of him turning up like this?  And he’s just the man for Miss Elsie; but I have made her laugh at him, and I misdoubt if her proud spirit will bend to him.  And after all, what