thing warmer. You are a novelist, Miss Smithers; perhaps some day you will write a book to explain why people fall in love where their affection is not wanted, and what purpose their distress can possibly serve. And now, once more, good-bye!" and he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently, and then, with a bow, turned and went.

From all of which it will be, clearly seen that Mr. Tombey was decidedly a young man above the average, and one who took punishment very well. Augusta looked after him, sighed deeply, and even wiped away a tear. Then she turned and walked aft, to where Lady Holmhurst was sitting chatting to the captain and enjoying the balmy southern air, through which the great ship was rushing with outspread sails like some huge white bird. As she came up, the captain made his bow and went, saying that he had something to see to, and for a minute Lady Holmhurst and Augusta were left alone.

"Well, Augusta? said Lady Holmhurst, for she called her "Augusta" now.

"Well, Lady Holmhurst?" said Augusta.

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'And what have you done with that

young man, Mr.

Tombey-that very nice young man?" she added with emphasis.

"I think that Mr. Tombey went forward," said Augusta.

The two women looked at each other, and, womanlike, each understood what the other meant. Lady Holmhurst had not been altogether innocent in the Tombey affair.

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Lady Holmhurst," said Augusta, taking the bull by the horns," Mr. Tombey has been speaking to me, and has

"Proposed to you," suggested Lady Holmhurst, admiring the Southern Cross through her eye-glasses. “You said he went forward, you know.”

"Has proposed to me," answered Augusta, ignoring the little joke. "I regret," she went on hurriedly, "that I have not been able to fall in with Mr. Tombey's plans."

"Ah!" said Lady Holmhurst; "I am sorry, for some things. Mr. Tombey is such a nice young man, and so very gentlemanlike. I thought that perhaps it might suit your views, and it would have simplified your future arrangements. But, of course, while you are in New Zealand, I shall be able to see to them. By the way, it is understood that you come to stay with us for a few months at Government House, before you hunt up your cousin."

"You are very good to me, Lady Holmhurst," said Augusta, with something like a sob.

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Suppose, my dear," answered the great lady, laying her little hand upon Augusta's beautiful hair, "that

·

you were to drop the Lady Holmhurst' and call me 'Bessie'? It sounds so much more sociable, you know, and, besides, it is shorter, and does not waste so much breath."

Then Augusta sobbed outright, for her nerves were shaken : "You don't know what your kindness means to me," she said; "I have never had a friend, and since my darling died I have been so very lonely!"

CHAPTER VII

THE CATASTROPHE

AND so these two fair women talked, making plans for the future as though all things endured for ever, and all plans were destined to be realised. But even as they talked, somewhere up in the high heavens the Voice that rules the world spoke a word, and the Messenger of Fate rushed forth to do its bidding. On board the great ship were music and laughter and the sweet voices of singing women; but above it hung a pall of doom. Not the most timid heart dreamed of danger. What danger could there be aboard of that grand ship, which sped across the waves with the lightness and confidence of a swallow? There was naught to fear. A prosperous voyage was drawing to its end, and mothers put their babes to sleep with as sure a heart as though they were on solid English ground. Oh! surely, when his overflowing load of sorrows and dire miseries was meted out to man, some gentle Spirit pleaded for him-that he should not have foresight added to the tale, that he should not see the falling knife or hear the water lapping that one day shall

entomb him? Or, was it kept back because man, having knowledge, would be man without reason ?— for terror would make him mad, and he would end his fears by hurrying their fulfilment! At least, we are blind to the future, and let us be thankful for it.

Presently Lady Holmhurst got up from her chair, and said that she was going to bed, but that, first of all, she must kiss Dick, her little boy, who slept with his nurse in another cabin. Augusta rose and went with her, and they both kissed the sleeping child, a bonny boy of five, and then they kissed each other and separated for the night.

Some hours afterwards, Augusta woke up, feeling very restless. For an hour or more she lay thinking of Mr. Tombey and many other things, and listening to the swift "lap, lap," of the water as it slipped past the vessel's sides, and the occasional tramp of the watch as they set fresh sails. At last her feeling of unrest became too much for her, and she rose and partially, very partially, dressed herself-for in the gloom she could only find her flannel vest and petticoat-twisted her long hair in a coil round her head, put on a hat and a thick ulster that hung upon the door-for they were running into chilly latitudes-and slipped out on deck.

It was growing towards dawn, but the night was still dark. Looking up, Augusta could only just make

H