day, but which at night, and when she was inwardly excited—outwardly she never seemed excited—became brilliant. She and her husband did not get on together. He was a brute, and had not a penny. It was her brother in New Zealand, she said, who found her an allowance for her personal requirements. She stayed about a good deal, and was always beautifully dressed. But then she was like Elsie in this respect, that she had the knack of putting on her clothes, the gift also of millinery. Ill-natured people said of her that she was a terrible flirt, and intensely designing, and that she was looking out for someone to run away with, and so give Mr. Allanby a chance of divorcing her, and herself and him a chance of a new beginning. It was certain, however, that her conduct was irreproachable, or Mrs. Jem Hallett would never have had her at Tunimba. She made herself very useful to Mrs. Jem, played well, recited dramatically, and was a most agreeable companion and an adroit flatterer.
She and Lord Horace strolled up and down under the vine trellis which was now beautiful in its spring green. They talked low. Lord Horace had more than ever the air of a sun-bronzed Apollo in bushman's garb. He was without doubt very handsome, and had that English air which to so many Australian women is so irresistible. Mrs. Allanby was not so clever as Elsie, and did not require intellect or even sterling worth in her admirers. She made Lord Horace tell her of the Waveryngs, and particularly of his twin sister. Em would stand by him through thick and thin, he declared; only Em had taken a tremendous fancy to Ina.
"Poor Ina!" softly murmured Mrs. Allanby.
It was about tea-time. Mrs. Jem always had tea English fashion, with delicious scones and short-bread and daintinesses generally. Lord Horace delivered himself of his messages. Ina wanted Elsie to go over at once; of course Frank might come too. Ina was consumed also, it appeared, with a desire for Mrs. Allanby's company, and of course—a half after-thought—for that of Mrs. Jem and her husband,
