tremely agreeable, and made inquiries about the parts of the world I had visited, and the people therein. So I spoke of London, Paris, New York, and the Melbourne Cup. Estas, my favourite, informed me that she was fifty years of age, and her sister twenty-five. I was much surprised to learn the difference in their ages, for, judging from their appearance, I thought there could not be more than a couple of years between them.
We were now by ourselves, as Arizenda, the younger one, withdrew. Estas now suggested that we should go into the garden. I of course acquiesced, and we walked through the beautiful lawns and flower plots that surrounded the house, Estas in the meantime giving me to understand that they were kept in order by her sister and herself. She also initiated me in the names and peculiarities of many of the strange trees, plants, and flowers. The slanting rays of the sun, which was getting no lower, but travelling slowly along the horizon, shone through the foliage and flowers, while birds and butterflies of gaudy colours flew among the trees, or rested on the blossoms. Everything, indeed, was so quiet and peaceful, that I felt extremely happy. I knew that I loved Estas, and believed that she returned my passion. We
