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Rh, and he thought she was picturesque. He would have fallen in love with me if I had allowed it; it would have been all the same to him. Just now he is a little tired of picturesque barbarism. He begins to see that the bush life isn't a picnic, and he is taken up with Mrs. Allanby because she is English, and because his soul begins to hanker a little after the flesh-pots of Egypt, and Mrs. Allanby represents the older civilization. I have no patience with Horace. Ina would manage him a great deal better if she were not so submissive."

Frank laughed. "You don't mean to make that mistake anyhow," he said.

And just then they got to the creek, and the lights of the head station came into full view, and there was a chorus of dogs rushing out and barking to greet their masters.

Elsie had only a few words with Blake that night. "Goodnight and good-bye," he said. "We start at daylight tomorrow, and I shall be in Leichardt's Town by nightfall. Can I do anything for you there?"

"I shall be there very soon myself," she answered.

"Then I shall very shortly take advantage of your permission, and I shall present myself at Emu Point."

"You will begin your new duties very soon," said Elsie.

"Yes; Parliament meets in a few weeks, and as I suppose you know, there is a talk of the Ministry going out on the Address. Will you come to hear my maiden speech, Miss Valliant?"

"I never go to the Ladies' Gallery," she answered. "I have never taken any interest in politics."

"You must take a little interest in them now, however—now that both Hallett and I have gone into public life. Which of us, I wonder, will be first in the Cabinet?"

"You are going in for that?" she asked, in slight surprise.

"When I play a game I always play it thoroughly," he replied.

"Good-night," she said abruptly, "and good-bye." She left him.