"Not at all," said Stafford, "and now you will take a drink with me, or

shall we make it a cigar?" for he did not want to lead the man any

further on the road of inebriety.

"A cigar? Right you are," the settler replied, promptly. He took out an

envelope, intending to screw it up for a light, but suddenly caught

sight of the address, and with genial gravity handed the envelope to

Stafford. "There's my name--Henery Joffler, and there's my address, and

anybody at Melbourne will tell you the best way of getting there. Come

when you like, winter or summer, and you'll find Henery Joffler ready

to receive you with a welcome. _Now_ I will have a drink," he remarked,

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as if he had not partaken of one for a calendar month.

When Stafford left the little public house, he held the envelope in his

hand and was about to tear it up, when he checked himself and

mechanically put it into his pocket. The incident, if it had not

actually amused him, had diverted his mind in a wholesome manner for a

short space; but he had almost forgotten it when has reached his rooms.

The time had slipped by him and it was now twilight and as he was

crossing the room in the dusk to ring the bell for a light, a woman

rose from his chair and came towards him with out-stretched hands and

his name on her lips.

"Maude!" he exclaimed, startled out of his self-possession. Then it

flashed upon him that she should not be there, in his rooms, alone; and

he looked at her gravely.

"Why have you come, Maude?" he said. "Wait but one moment and I will

call a cab--go home with you."

"No," she said, presently. "Did you think I should not come, Stafford?

I have been here for hours." She drew nearer to him, her eyes, so cold

to others, burning like sapphires as they were raised to his. "Did you

think when I had heard what you had done that I should keep away? No!

I--I am proud of you--can you not guess how proud?--my heart is aching

with it. Ah, but it was like you, Stafford!"

As she put her hand on his shoulder and looked at him with a smile of

pride, and of adoration, Stafford's eyes fell before hers.

"I could do nothing else," he said. "But I am sorry you came, Maude.

Didn't Mr. Falconer tell you?"




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