Miss Sarah had no great opinion of the match her sister was making; but she had been agreeably surprised by Mahony's person and manners, and had said so, thus filling Polly's soul with bliss.

"Provided, of course, little goosey, you have a SPARE ROOM to offer me .-- For, I confess," she went on, turning to the rest of the party, "I confess I feel inordinately curious to see, with my own eyes, what these famous diggings are like.

From all one hears, they must be MARVELLOUSLY entertaining .-- Now, I presume that you, Mr.
Smith, never touch at such RUDE, OUT-OF-THE-WORLD places in the course of YOUR travels ?" Purdy, who had discreetly concealed the fact that he was but a poverty-stricken digger himself, quibbled a light evasion, then changed the subject, and offered his escort to the steam-packet by which Miss Sarah was returning to Melbourne.
"And you, too, dear Tilly," urged little Polly, proceeding with her farewells.

"For, mind, you promised.

And I won't forget to ...