of a rude cottage in a wood instead of near it. Now that sort of thing won't do. I was troubled with romance once, but gave it up. Excuse me, old fellow; but do you want to pile up rupees here?'

'No, my ambition don't lie that way. I sold out, after saving up. Wife and I invested for an annuity. The balance is enough to buy a farm and stock it, and still leave something for contingencies!'

'All right. But there's the lad!'

As to him, Roberts, you need fear nothing. An aunt has settled two or three hundreds a-year upon him, and that sum he will scarcely need touch, as his fancies are neither extravagant nor commercial.'

'Now I begin, then, to see which way the needle turns. He wants to worship nature in quiet. You, I know, have no business to pitch your cash in the plough furrow. So you must give up the farming ideas.'

'Yet that will be to sacrifice all the pleasure that we have been promising ourselves.'

'Then I'll tell you what we'll do. A farm it shall be, so that you may have your own milk, butter and eggs, without entering into competition with the honest grower of grain. But it must be near town for several reasons; you will want to see me, and hear the news; your wife can't live without shopping, and knowing the fashions; and Horace, forsooth, must be a Fellow of our Royal Society of Tasmania,

and make acquaintance with all our naturalists and

geologists.'

'Really, my dear friend, you have hit off the thing exactly.'

'Certainly I have. The next thing is to see how these glorious results can be obtained. There is now a place to let some half a dozen miles out of Hobart Town. To-morrow afternoon I will go with you on a tour of inspection.'

But the

The next day Mr. Roberts took the whole party to a charming little farm of about sixty acres. It was nestling under some of the roots of Mount Wellington. The house was not very grand or extensive. garden and orchard were in capital order, and the paddocks were safely enclosed. The road to the farm from the town was admirable, as are all the main thoroughfares of the island. The distance was a short hour's drive, passing through New Town, by the Race Course, and over the picturesque O'Brien's Bridge into Glenorchy.

The lady was pleased, and the gentlemen were pleased. A little expenditure might make the house thoroughly suitable, and a lease was to be obtained on very moderate terms.

The bargain was concluded, and an early removal accomplished. Rosedale was a charming name for a really charming home. Experience of its pleasures only added to its interest. The lady could get to the shops, Horace to the library and museum, and the Captain to a chat at the club with his friend Roberts.

CHAPTER III.

WHY SEEK A COLONIAL HOME.

THERE was a farm to let next to that where our Indian friends were living. Report came that a new arrival from England had been to look at it. A few days more passed, and then report came that the new arrival had taken the farm.

'Who is he?' 'What is he?' 'Where does he come from?' 'What does he intend to do?' 'Is he agreeable?' 'Has he a family?' 'Are they agreeable?' These were some of the interrogatives thrown into the ears of Captain Douglas as he came in from town.

There was no long trial of patience. The full intelligence arrived soon. Captain Douglas, who already felt himself quite colonial, was resolved not to follow English fashion, and give the neighbour a month to get straight before a call. On the contrary, he walked across on the very day when the goods were going in, and offered his neighbourly service. He was sure the good folks had no chance of preparing a meal, and his wife had sent him over to say they must all come to dinner.

The Englishman stared a little at this unceremonious visit, and his wife blushed at being caught in a comparative deshabille; yet the offer was made so frankly and kindly, that they could not but accept it,

and went, accordingly. This was not all. Other little services were rendered, and due counsel was tendered, as the privilege of an older resident. The locality was described, the soil was criticised, and some improvements were suggested. The lady got many domestic hints from Mrs. Douglas, especially in relation to her children, for she had a full half dozen of all sorts, and of ages from two years to fourteen.

It was natural that the two families should be brought into contact. An increased acquaintance increased mutual confidence, and established a sincere friendship.

One evening, after a dish of tea together, Captain Douglas ventured to say how pleased he was to have such pleasant neighbours as Mr. and Mrs. Latham. They warmly expressed the reciprocity of feeling on. their part; the gentleman adding,

'The question of society was the only thing that troubled us when resolving to come here. Everything else about Tasmania was so attractive, but we sighed at the thought that we might have improper associations for our children. We knew it had been a convict colony, and must contain much of the old character of population.'

'But still you will admit,' observed Captain Douglas, 'that Rome with as bad a beginning had a far more honest and noble character than could ever be boasted by Greece.'

'True, sir; but the conversion took time.'

'That may be. But this country had some advantages. It was planted by British convicts, certainly. Yet these ever formed but a part of the population. The leaven of free immigration was perceptible soon after 1820. This new blood did not consist of the sweepings of workhouses, too commonly constituting the free emigration to portions of Australia; but it was of men of some capital, or educated in a profession. They had no assisted passage, though at one time favoured with grants of land, that they might relieve Government from the rations of men in their absorption as servants.'

'Thanks for that intimation. Such a lesson was not without its influence; particularly, Captain Douglas, when so many retired officers made this their home, and when so large a proportion of free arrivals were from your northern land of the Mountain and the Flood.'

'Your compliments to my nation and profession, Mr Latham, are gratefully appreciated. But I would have you take a less gloomy estimate of the convict population.'

'O, I am sure the children of transported men here are in their general deportment, and their freedom from the gross vices of civilization, an ornament to society. I honour their progress, and respect their worth. My wife and I are very favourably impressed with the young people of the so-called lower classes.'