prisoners, dressed in coarse grey, linked by their wrists two-and-two to an enormous chain, which passed down the centre of the gang. Every one of these hapless beings carried either a pickaxe or shovel-they were going to relieve a gang upon the roads. As the brim-full eye of Pauline rested upon the condemned and spiritless-looking host, guarded as they were by the bayoneted soldiery, her heart was ready to burst within her. She turned away sickening at the sight, for she knew not whether the innocent one whom she so loved might not be among those miserable men.

She was roused from her thoughts by Susan, who said she had just inquired of a soldier if Charles was in the barracks-he said he did not believe there was one of that name.

"Oh, I would give the world if I knew!" cried Pauline, wiping a tear from her eye.

At this moment, Turkey came near to Pauline, and, taking off his hat, inquired politely if there was anything connected with that establishment she was interested in? If so, as he was about to enter it, he would be very happy to perform any duty in his power.

"Are you not, sir, Mr. Turkey?" inquired Pauline, her face flushing of a deep and burning crimson as she spoke.

"That, madam, is my name," replied Turkey, bowing very low.

Then, sir," resumed Pauline, "you are the gentleman who was so polite as to offer me his services?”

“The same, madam; your most obedient servant."

Pauline knew not what to do. She was dying to hear if Charles was confined within those walls, and yet she could not trust his name from her lips. Besides, Turkey, who appeared a gentleman, would wonder what upon earth a young gentlewoman could have to interest her in a prisoners' barracks! Pauline at length mustered courage enough to say to Mr. Turkey, who stood beside her with his hat still in hand— "Thank you, sir, very much. Mr. Turkey-I—a friend▬▬You are remaining at the Mitre ?"

Turkey bowed.

"I will possibly trouble you with a little commission, if you will be so very kind as to execute it."

"With the greatest pleasure, madam." Turkey bowed once more very low and departed.

Susan called a coach that happened to be passing, and Pauline once more soon found herself upon the sofa at the Mitre, cogitating what would be the better way of finding whether Charles was in the barracks or not, for Turkey appeared resolute for employment some way or the other, and she therefore resolved to trust him with the all-important name on the morrow.

Susan, who was a faithful correspondent to her dear friend Mary Webb, hearing that a vessel sailed for England in the evening, could not miss so good an opportunity; accordingly the following epistle was directed to that excellent personage :

"DEAR MOLLY,

"I am at Bottomy Bay-lord less yer, youl say, where shal you get to next, I wunder!—i am just under Lunnun Bridge; that is, if they bored a hole thro the earth at that place with a long pole, the pint on it would come out in the market-place at Bottomy.-i spose that why its called Bottomy, cos its the bottom or hind parts of the earth. Its a mortal qurous country, but plenti of folks and housen, and gin-housen-and four men in the stocks, i seed em all a-sittin a-smokin together—and my dear Missis and me went to see the prisoners barrocks, and the conviks; its a horrid site-they are all chained together like honions hanging up in a growsers shop-door, and they do look outragous pitiful. i expect they teeches some on em trades, when they are once out in these contries, for i seen a main on em wi pickaxes and shovels on their showlders—and as a gentleman of the name of Turkey was standin near me, he whispers, Them be the grave-diggers! Theres a no knowing what games they get up to, not there. Now for all i bin round the world—and many people still will have it that it is round, arter all, as far as ever i could see it was as mortal flat as your mangle-boards-and i believe it is too; else, look you here, we folks at Bottomy wud be walking just like flies on a sealing, if it war the case; but we dont-i find no difference in anebodys gate whatsume ver: it wud be a shameful site to see wimen walking on their heds, with their eels up in the hair; but you may tak my word it aint so-we are as desent here as at poor deer old England; i wunder when it will be my lot to set my blessed fut on it again-for my part, i dont see we get a mossel the farruder in the Mississis affair. About my gentleman in Hafricker-i shal sho you a letter he sent to the post-hoffice at Sidney, Bottomy Bay, when i cum back—it is half ritten in the Hafricken tung, which to them as understand it is rekkond equal to the lattin. He begins it-Mies deer lub, wens i spred harts on youre bussums, member poor me at de Cap towne, my hart lubs-spred me harts on

youre bussum. That is all that i can dissolve at this present-the rest is wrote in the Hafricken tung, which i spose he thought i was lerned in; but it menes how he adoors me, no dout, and he shawl never forget me in his thorts. He had a very feelin hart, but it wouldn't a done for me to a had him he had no monee, and had lost his place; else he was in a good sitivation, and was, he told me, doing very well-tho I found out arterwards he was ony a apprentise; but the fust of men be apprentises, you know.-I shal now conclude this pistul, hoping you do not enjoy bad helth. Adew.

"Your faithful frend,

"SUSAN PEEbles."

CHAPTER XXXV.

66
"Nothing lovelier can be found

In woman, than to study household good,

And good works in her husband to promote."

MILTON.

THE affairs of Mr. Rennie at Adelaide were not improved. His land lay still unsurveyed; and at last, in his desperation, whilst he had a little money left, he purchased a small flock of sheep, and, like his friend Blair, became a squatter.

Blair, in the mean time, continued to thrive; his wheat-crop this time promised well, and his sheep bore excellent wool. But Blair had never been the same man since the death of his beloved wife. He often expressed his determination of quitting the wilderness and returning to England; but an event which happened at this juncture at once changed his views, and created an unusual stir in his quiet dwelling. This was no less than the arrival of Mr. Clinton, from Albany, South Africa. That gentleman, upon the receipt of Miss Blair's letter, lost no time in setting out for Australia; and here he had arrived, at Mimosa Station, offering his hand and heart for the acceptance of his beloved Ada. It was the wish of Mr. Clinton, in the event of his views meeting the approval of Mr. Blair, that the latter gentleman should dispose of most of his sheep, and, with a few of the most select, purchase a farm in Albany. There was one at this present time, adjoining that possessed by Mr. Clinton, which that gentleman assured Mr. Blair was amongst the best in the Colony for fineness of herbage and abundance of water. Mr. Blair saw no objection to the happiness

of Clinton, if his daughter's affections were so placed. Miss Blair tremblingly answered, that Mr. Clinton was a gentleman it was impossible not to love, and, for her part, she was only too happy to become his wife, and share his fortunes in the valleys of South Africa.

The arrangements for the wedding were not very easily managed, as it was agreed that the first ship sailing for the Cape after the ceremony should convey the whole of the party, and Mr. Blair had to find a customer for his sheep. He at once directed a letter to his friend Rennie, offering him his improved station, together with his outbuildings, homestead, &c. &c.; and, by the same bearer, received an answer to the effect that if Blair would allow him six months' credit, he would purchase what sheep he might wish to dispose of, and would be happy at once to enter the station. These matters were satisfactorily arranged between the two friends, and Rennie was forthwith installed at the Mimosa, which for a few days he left in charge of his servants, in order to be present at the wedding of Miss Blair at Adelaide. That ceremony was conducted in a style of considerable splendour, as it had been the very first ever celebrated in that town or country. Every inhabitant of the place forthwith appeared with a white favour; and as Mr. Moss was presented with a pipe of good wine, brought purposely for the event from the Cape by Clinton, that worthy and unsophisticated host was enabled to dispose of it at a very low figure and great profit.

On that ever-to-be-remembered day, the "Roaring Lion" was the centre of attraction; from it the bride and bridegroom, with their retinue, walked to the church, and at it, on their return, under a large bower of evergreens erected by Moss for the occasion, did the happy party partake of a splendid déjeûné à la fourchette. All was gaiety. A ball in front of the "Roaring Lion" took place in the evening, at which Moss himself " assisted," till he vowed himself " reglar

blowed."

In the course of a week from these festivities, a vessel left the port, calling at the Cape, and in her departed Mr. and Miss Blair, and the happy, very happy Mr. and Mrs. Clinton.

It will be interesting to state, that after a few short weeks had elapsed,