Part 41 (1/2)

Archie had not long to wait for Winslow. He burst in like a fresh sea-breeze--hale, hearty, and bonnie. He was also a trifle better dressed than usual. But who was that young lady close by his left hand?

That couldn't be--yes, it was Etheldene, and next moment Archie was grasping a hand of each.

Etheldene's beauty had matured; she had been but a girl, a child, when Archie had met her before. Now she was a bewitching young lady, modest and lovely, but, on the whole, so self-possessed that if our hero had harboured any desire to appear before her at his very best, and keep up the good impression by every means in his power, he had the good sense to give it up and remain his own natural honest self.

But he could not help saying to himself, ”What a wife she will make for Rupert! And how Elsie will love and adore her! And I--yes, I will be content to remain the big bachelor brother.”

There was such a deal to ask of each other, such a deal to do and to say, that days flew by before they knew where they were, as Winslow expressed it.

On the fifth day Gentleman Craig arrived to give an account of his stewards.h.i.+p.

Etheldene almost bounded towards him.

But she looked a little shy at his stare of astonishment as he took her gloved hand.

”Baby,” he exclaimed, ”I would hardly have known you! How you have improved!”

Then the conversation became general.

When accounts were squared, it was discovered that, by the spring wool, and last year's crops and bullocks, the young squatters had done wonderfully well, and were really on a fair way to wealth.

”Now, Archie Broadbent,” said Winslow that night, ”I am going to put you on to a good thing or two. You are a gentleman, and have a gentleman's education. You have brains, and can do a bit of speculation; and it is just here where brains come in.”

Winslow then unfolded his proposals, which were of such an inviting kind that Archie at once saw his way to benefit by them. He thanked Winslow over and over again for all he had done for him, and merely stipulated that in this case he should be allowed to share his plans with Bob and Harry.

To this, of course, Winslow made no objection.

”As to thanking me for having given ye a tip or two,” said Winslow, ”don't flatter yourself it is for your sake. It is all to the memory of the days I spent as steward at sea with your good old uncle. Did you send him back his fifty pounds?”

”I did, and interest with it.”

”That is right. That is proper pride.”

Archie and the Winslows spent a whole fortnight in Brisbane, and they went away promising that ere long they would once more visit the station.

The touch of Etheldene's soft hand lingered long in Archie's. The last look from her bonnie eyes haunted him even in his dreams, as well as in his waking thoughts. The former he could not command, so they played him all kinds of pranks. But over his thoughts he still had sway; and whenever he found himself thinking much about Etheldene's beauty, or winning ways, or soft, sweet voice, he always ended up by saying to himself, ”What a love of a little wife she will make for Rupert!”

One day, while Archie was taking a farewell walk along Queen Street, glancing in here and there at the windows, and now and then entering to buy something pretty for Sarah, something red--dazzling--for her black servant-maid, and toys for Di, he received a slap on the back that made him think for a moment a kangaroo had kicked him.

”What!” he cried, ”Captain Vesey?”

”Ay, lad, didn't I say we would meet again?”

”Well, wonders will never cease! Where have you been? and what have you been doing?”

”Why I've gone in for trade a bit. I've been among the South Sea Islands, s.h.i.+pping blacks for the interior here; and, to tell you the truth, my boy, I am pretty well sick of the job from all I've seen. It is more like buying slaves, and that is the honest truth.”

”And I suppose you are going to give it up?” The captain laughed--a laugh that Archie did not quite like.

”Yes,” he said, ”I'll give it up after--another turn or two. But come and have something cooling, the weather is quite summery already. What a great man you have grown! When I saw you first you were just a--”