“Fair maiden-can a poor confectioner offer you anything this morning.”

“What have you?” said she, with a sweet smile.

He brought in his trays and the beautiful girl bent down over them, while her long, dark tresses hid her face from view.  Melville’s heart beat with delight.

“You will find there as good candy as any in the city,” he said at length, in a business way.

She selected a large quantity.

“O thank you, thank you, fair lady, for your kindness to a poor man like me.”

“You are a stranger here, are you not?”

“Yes, I arrived only yesterday morning.”

“From England?”

“Yes, and another friend came with me, but he is off to Melbourne.”

“And will you not go?”

“I decided to stay here when he left, and now I could not-would not leave this place for the world.”

“You are prospering, then?” said she, with embarrassment, for Melville’s dark eyes rested meaningly upon her.

“Yes, and happy.  I have my little—­”

“Emmie,” said a voice at the head of the stairs.

“Yes, pa, I am coming.  Please bring some more to-morrow, good man,” added she, in a louder voice, “and if you hear of a footman who wants a place, send him here.”

“Thank you, miss,” said he, in the tone of a hawker, again, “I will do so.  I am very much obliged, miss, for your custom, miss, and I hope it. will be continued, if I can do anything to please you, miss.”

CHAPTER II.

He “Stoops to conquer.”

“Emily,” said Mr. Inglis to his daughter, “what a strange servant is this new one of ours.  He is one of the handsomest and boldest fellows in the world-looks as much like a gentleman as I do, and yet he is a servant.  I declare I feel quite a reluctance to order him about.  And when I ride out, it is awkward to have such a noble looking fellow as my servant, riding behind my carriage.  He is an energetic fellow, I saw him selling confectionary before he came here.  Did not you say he sold some to you?”

“Yes,” said Emily, faintly.

“And yet he is not impudent, but is perfectly obedient.  I cannot make him out, however.  He performs everything smilingly, as though it were an excellent joke.  I wonder who he can be?”

“He is an Englishman.”

“Certainly, and he is well-educated.  I know so.  It is amusing to see how popular he is with the servants.  Ha, ha, he has got them all to admire and try to imitate him.  You should have heard a lecture which he delivered last night to them.  I stood out in the yard, and attracted by some noise, looked in.  There our new servant was, with a short pipe in his mouth, and a mug of ale beside him.  The others called out for a speech.  Upon which he rose from the chair and got upon the table, and spoke to them.”

“What did he say?”