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Rh that I shall ride over and see him about this. I have something else to tell him." Lord Waveryng added solemnly, "A piece of news the mail has brought, which he ought to know without delay."

"What is that?" asked Elsie.

"I don't know whether I ought to tell you," said Lord Waveryng, hesitatingly. "It is Blake's own business."

"I think you may tell her," put in Lady Waveryng. "I fancy that Mr. Blake's business is Elsie's business, too."

"I am going to marry Mr. Blake, some time," said Elsie calmly, with a curious pride.

"So I imagined."

"Well, it's this," said Lord Waveryng. "Lord Coola is dead, and Morres Blake is now Baron Coola."

Oh, the Fates! Why should the threads be knotted to make it easier work for her of the shears! This was Elsie's first thought. A superstitious terror seized her. She could not speak; she could only listen tremblingly while they discussed the old blight that had fallen on his youth. Ina came in, and a horse was ordered for Lord Waveryng, and one of the black boys to accompany him to Baròlin Gorge.

She waited anxiously for Lord Waveryng's return. He came back late, and reported of Blake as being deeply engaged in the transfer of Baròlin Gorge to its new purchaser. Blake's manner appeared to have impressed Lord Waveryng curiously. "He was quite unemotional," Lord Waveryng said; "seemed taken aback, shocked, and sorry at the news of his brother's death, but wasn't in the least excited as to its bearing upon his own fortunes. He wouldn't tell me what he thought of doing; said he should probably leave Australia, but said he had as yet given no hint of his intention to his colleagues. I can't make him out. Somehow he gave me the idea of a man who is contemplating some great change in his life, and is quite indifferent to all other concerns. Or perhaps he is so tremendously in love that he has no thought for anything else."