completely landlocked, six miles broad by eight or nine long. The hills slope upwards from the water's edge; at this season clothed with verdure, and dotted with the shyack, the foliage of which is dark, like the Scotch fir, and long and waving as that of the Weymouth pine. The whole district is more or less wooded with this tree. The hills at the back of the township are of moderate elevation, and form a beautiful back-ground to the indented shore, with its low and grassy cliffs, at the foot of which the waves break with a gentle ripple. Altogether it is a beautiful scene; but the country in the interior being limited in extent, and fit for pastoral rather than agricultural pursuits, hemmed in also by barren scrub, which affords no sustenance for sheep or cattle, the settlement has not increased in numbers; the population continuing about three hundred, spread over a wide extent of country, about forty miles up the gulf, and one hundred and twenty along the coast to the westward. In the township itself, and immediate neighbourhood, there are about one hundred souls; but the place is so attractive from its beauty and the coolness of the climate, that it will, with steam communication, hereafter, perhaps, become a place of summer resort for families and invalids. Mr. W. Allworth, who has been stationed here three months as catechist, welcomed me on Monday morning. With him I called upon the principal inhabitants, giving notice of divine services on the following Sunday, the administration of the sacraments and confirmation. Mr. Allworth expressed himself very grateful for the kindness which had been shown him on his arrival. The attendance of children at his school will increase, and his Sunday services have been acceptable and blessed to many. One half the population is usually present. Among other places visited this day were the cemetery, in a sequestered and beautiful valley opening on the sea, about two miles from the town, and the foundation-stone of a Church laid in the early days of the colony, but not likely, under present circumstances, to be finished, as the few houses forming the township have been built in a different direction. The cemetery is yet uninclosed; but this is a work too expensive at present to be accomplished. It had been arranged that I should accompany the Inspector of Police, and Captain Young, the Governor's private secretary, to the mine, which lies about thirty miles north of the township, and is now being worked for copper ore. Our road lay along the gentle eminences above the shore of the bay, across a fine sheep-run: calling at the various locations on our road, we crossed the river Tod, meandering through a pretty valley to the sea, and then, striking inland, reached the mine about dark. It is situated among grassy and precipitous hills, slightly dotted with shyack. A

streamlet runs at the bottom of the dell, along which are placed the log-huts of the few German miners who are at work. Their neat gardens mark the patient industry of these worthy people, who, if not so active and robust as our own Cornish miners, still are very valuable elements of our industrial population. They have services among themselves every Sunday, and if the produce of the mine increases, will receive an accession of numbers ere long. The storekeeper at the mine placed his log-hut, consisting of one room, in which all the stores were congregated, at our disposal. At one end, a large rough stone chimney cheered us with a blazing fire, while the cold night air, streaming through the thousand crannies of the shingled roof and unplastered pineslabs, reminded us of the comparative luxury we were enjoying, instead of sleeping under the canopy of heaven on the bare hillside. Musing upon many things, the striking contrast between this homely shelter and the comfort of English residences, made me feel how little real happiness depends upon external things.

. . This year has seen the settlement there permanently of a catechist, and I have now personally ministered to this portion of the flock. Returning by Kepoyo, the residence of Mr. Price (brother of Mr. Bonamy Price, second Master of Rugby), I baptized his infant, said prayers, and returned to Port Lincoln on Thursday evening. Friday was devoted to a meeting for the purpose of collecting funds towards erecting a Church. The spirit evinced was excellent, and contributions promised to the amount of £80. The lowness of the wool-market last year has very seriously crippled the settlers, and they are few in number.

.. Our progress may be slower, our buildings more humble : but if slow, it is sure; if humble, they are appropriate. On Saturday afternoon, at three o'clock, I baptized two adults and several infants. The two former were anxious to partake of the LORD's Supper, and it was necessary that confirmation should be administered on the following morning to them and two other candidates. The administration of the sacrament of baptism drew many together on Saturday afternoon; a more solemn and affecting service than the office for adults cannot be found, and in the present instance I have reason to believe it was received under deep convictions of the necessity and blessedness of the ordinance. On Sunday morning, my worthy host, Mr. Bishop, having prepared a large portion of his stone wool-shed for divine service, a congregation amounting to seventy-six souls met within its walls, summoned at the appointed hour by the appropriate signal of the Union Jack. Would that its silent symbolism found a response in the bosom of all Christians, as it seemed this day to have done in many at Port Lincoln !

HENRIETTA'S WISH.

CHAPTER XV.

ON a soft hazy day in the beginning of February, the Knight Sutton carriage was on the road to Allonfield, and in it sat the busy Bee and her father, both of them speaking far less than was their wont when alone together.

Mr. Geoffrey Langford took off his hat, so as to let the moist spring breeze play round his temples, and in the thin locks where the silvery threads had lately grown more perceptible, and gazed upon the dewy grass, the tiny woodbine leaf, the silver "pussycats on the withy, and the tasselled catkin of the hazel, with the eyes of a man to whom such sights were a refreshment-a sort of holiday-after the many springs spent in close courts of law and London smoke; and now after his long attendance in the warm dark sick room. His daughter sat by him, thinking deeply, and her heart full of a longing earnestness which seemed as if it would not let her speak. She was going to meet her mother, whom she had not seen for so long a time; but it was only to be for one evening! Her father, finding that his presence was absolutely required in London, and no longer actually indispensable at Knight Sutton, had resolved on changing places with his wife, and she was to go with him and take her mother's place in attending on Lady Susan St. Leger. They were now going to fetch Mrs. Geoffrey Langford home from the Allonfield station, and they would have one evening at Knight Sutton with her, returning themselves the next morning to Westminster.

They arrived at Allonfield, executed various commissions with which Mrs. Langford had been delighted to entrust Geoffrey; they ordered some new books for Frederick, and called at Philip Carey's for some medicines; and then driving up to the station watched eagerly for the train.

Soon it was there, and there at length she was; her own dear self, the dark aquiline face, with its sweetest and brightest of all expressions; the small youthful figure, so active, yet so quiet and elegant the dress; so plain and simple, and yet with that distinguished air. How happy Beatrice was that first moment of feeling herself at her side.

"My dear! my own dear child!" Then anxiously following her husband with her eye, as he went to look for her luggage, she said, "How thin he looks, Queenie !"

"Oh, he has been doing so much," said busy Bee. "It is only for this last week he has gone to bed at all, and then only on the sofa in Fred's room. This is the first time he has been out, except last Sunday to Church, and a turn or two round the garden with grandmamma."

"Come,

He came back before Queen Bee had done speaking. Beatrice," said he to his wife, "I am in great haste to have home; that fresh face of yours will do us all so much good."

you at

"One thing is certain," said she; "I shall send home orders that you shall be allowed no strong coffee at night, and that busy Bee shall hide half the mountain of letters in the study. But tell me honestly, Geoffrey, are you really well?"

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Perfectly, excepting for a growing disposition to yawn," said her husband, laughing.

"Well, what are the last accounts of the patient?"

"He is doing very well; the last thing I did before coming away was to lay him down on the sofa, with Retzsch's outlines to look at: so you may guess that he is getting on quickly. I suppose you have brought down the books and prints?"

"Such a pile, that I almost expected my goods would be overweight."

"It is very fortunate that he has a taste for this kind of things, only take care, they must not be at Henrietta's discretion, or his own, or he will be overwhelmed with them; a very little oversets him, and might do great mischief."

"You don't think the danger of inflammation over yet then?" 'Oh, no! his pulse is so very easily raised, that we are obliged to keep him very quiet, and nearly to starve him, poor fellow; and his appetite is returning so fast, that it makes it very difficult to manage him."

"I should be afraid that now would be the time to see the effects of poor Mary's soft hand."

"Yes; but what greatly increases the difficulty is that Fred has some strange prejudice against Philip Carey."

Busy Bee, who had heard nothing of this, felt her cheeks flush while her father proceeded.

"I do not understand it at all. Philip's manners in a sick room are particularly good,-much better than I should have expected, and he has been very attentive and gentle-handed; but from the first Fred has shown a dislike to him, questioned all his measures, and made the most of it whenever he was obliged to give him any pain. The last time the London doctor was here, I am sure he hurt Fred a great deal more than Philip has ever done, yet the boy bore it manfully, though he shrinks and exclaims the moment Philip touches him. Then he is always talking of wishing for old Clarke at Rocksand, and I give Mary infinite credit for never having proposed to send for him. I used to think she had great faith in the old man, but I believe it was only her

mother."

"Of course it was. It is only when Mary has to act alone that you really are obliged to perceive all her excellent sense and firmness; and I am very glad that you should be convinced now and

then, that in nothing but her fears, poor thing, has she anything of the spoiling mamma about her."

"As if I did not know that!" said he, smiling.

"And so she would not yield to this fancy? Very wise indeed; but I should like to know the reason of this dislike on Fred's part. Have you ever asked him?"

"No; he is not in a fit state for argument, and, besides, I think the prejudice would only be strengthened. We have praised Philip again and again before him, and said all we could think of to give him confidence in him, but nothing will do; in fact, I suspect Mr. Fred was sharp enough to discover that we were talking for a purpose. It has been the great trouble this whole time, though neither Mary nor I have mentioned it, for fear of annoying my mother." Papa," said busy Bee, "I am afraid I know the reason but too well. It was my foolish way of talking about the Careys; I used to tease poor Fred about Roger's having taken him for Philip, and say all sorts of things that I did not really mean."

"Hem!" said her father. Well, I should think it might be so; it always struck me that the prejudice must be grounded on some absurd notion, the memory of which had passed away, while the impression remained."

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"And do you think I could do anything towards removing it? You know I am to go and wish Fred good-bye this afternoon." Why yes; you might as well try to say something_cheerful, which might do away with the impression. Not that I think it will be of any use; only do not let him think it has been under discussion."

Beatrice assented, and was silent again while they went on talking.

"And Mary has held out wonderfully ?" said her mother.

"Too wonderfully," said Mr. Geoffrey Langford, "in a way which I fear will cost her dearly. I have been positively longing to see her give way as she ought to have done under the fatigue; and now I am afraid of the old complaint: she puts her hand to her side now and then, and I am persuaded that she had some of those spasms a night or two ago."

"Ah!" said his wife, with great concern, "that is just what I have been dreading the whole time. When she consulted Dr.how strongly he forbade her to use any kind of exertion. Why would you not let me come? I assure you it was all I could do to keep myself from setting off."

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"It was very well behaved in you indeed, Beatrice," said he, smiling; a sacrifice which very few husbands would have had resolution either to make themselves, or to ask of their wives. I thanked you greatly when I did not see you."

"But why would you not have me? Do you not repent it now?"