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142 —almost as good as Lady Hamilton, and he would have given all the soft richness of your colouring."

At his compliment Elsie recovered her self-possession. "Never mind my colouring. Tell me what news there is while I work. I am going to sew all these strips together, if you don't mind."

"No, I don't mind at all. I like to see a woman working, especially if she is worth watching. One can stare at her without seeming rude, and then it makes one feel more at home. I have some news for you, Miss Valliant; news which ought to interest you very much. I don't think you can have heard it, for they had got it at the Club just as I left."

"What is it? Is the date fixed for the first Government House 'At home'? I don't know of anything else which will interest me particularly."

"Really, not even Mr. Frank Hallett's election?"

"He has got in then. Of course I knew he would get in."

"Yes, he has got in, and by a good majority. I am honestly glad. By all the laws of justice he ought to have beaten me at Groondi."

"Why, I suppose the best man wins, wherever it is."

"I am afraid that in this case it wasn't the best man winning. If he had been an Irishman, he would have had a walk over. The patriotic spirit was roused, and I got the benefit of it. Well, you will see now how we shall fight in the Legislative Assembly. Parliament opens, you know, next week."

There was another click at the gate. Blake cursed the untimely visitor.

It was Captain Macpherson, who, since the races on the Luya, had developed a tenderness for Elsie. He looked a little cross at the sight of Blake, who scarcely stirred from his seat. Captain Macpherson threw himself on the edge of the verandah, with an air of easy familiarity. He had brought an offering, in the shape of banana candy, and Elsie nibbled at it daintily.