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Rh recognized as the brilliant Miss Vajliant, of Leichardt's Town renown. She rarely alluded to her marriage, nor did Frank; and Lady Garfit pronounced them an extraordinary engaged couple, and began to think there might after all be a chance for Rose. Of late, however, she had taken a fancy to Blake in the light of a possible son-in-law. She lived in hope that he might be induced to change his politics, and to join Sir James Garfit's ministry. She was very much put out that he could not be at the picnic.

For he was not to be there. A telegram had arrived with prepaid messenger from the Bean-Tree to say that he was unavoidably prevented from joining the party. Elsie read the telegram—Mrs. Hallett handed it to her—with a curious sinking of her heart. She had been looking forward with a guilty joy to the prospect of meeting him at the picnic, and yet she had told herself all the time that she was wicked to wish for him, and that in reality she was anxious that he should not come.

The arrangements had been made with a view to the well-being and enjoyment of the elder and timorous as well as of the rasher spirits among the young. Lady Garfit did not think camping-out was quite appropriate at her age, or that of Sir James. Besides, she had not mounted a horse for years, and her size was hardly adapted to equestrian feats. Lady Waveryng, of course, wished to see and do everything that was to be seen and done. Rose Garfit thought she would see how they got on—of course camping-out would be sweet, but she was not sure that she ought to leave her mother. Mrs. James Hallett, with her usual sense of the fitness of things, decided that it was her duty to look after her elder guests. As for Minnie Pryde, she was equal to all dangers and difficulties. So it was settled that they were to follow the buggy track as far as that would take them towards one of the Selections in the mountains, and then a very short ride on a quiet horse, into which Lady Garfit was persuaded, would lead them to the Point Row Ravine, and there they would picnic, those so disposed returning in the late afternoon, while the rest would push on