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carriages。 There were four or five in each lot； and they were mostly old。
They got out their sharks' flesh and that bad corn they eat； and began to
make their meal of them。 Near Mrs。 Denison there was one old man with a
better sort of face； and Dick heard her say to master； 'Isn't he like my
father？' What Master Horace answered he didn't hear； he says he never
saw anything like her face； so sad and wild； and working for all the world
as if something were fighting her within。 Then all in a minute she ran out
and slipped down in her beautiful dress close by the old Maori in his dirty
rags； and was rubbing her face against his； as them folks do when they
meet。 She had just taken a mouthful of the raw fish when Master Horace
missed her。 He hadn't noticed her slip away。 But in a moment he seemed to
understand what it meant。 He saw the Maori come out strong in her face；
and he knew the Maori had got the better of everything； husband and
friends and all。 He gave a little cry； and in a minute he had her on her feet
and was bringing her back to the carriage。 Some folks thought Dick
Burdas a rough hard man； and I know he was a shocker of a lad （he was
fra Whitby）； but that night he cried like a baby when he tell 't me；〃 and
Mrs。 Bentley fell for a moment into the dialect of her youth。
〃He said；〃 she continued； 〃that she looked like a poor stricken thing
condemned； and let herself be led back as submissive as a child； and
Master Horace's face was like the dead。 He didn't think any one but the
major and Dr。 Danby saw her go； all was done in a minute。 But it was
done； and some few had seen； and it got out； and things were said that
wasn't true。 Not the doctor！ No； miss； you needn't tell me that； he's told
none； that I'll warrant。 He's faithful and he's close。〃
〃O Mrs。 Bentley； how dreadful for her； how dreadful！〃 and the girl
went down on her knees by the old woman； her tears flowing fast。
〃That's it； miss； you understand。 I feel like that。 It was bad enough for
Master Horace with the future before him； and his children to think of； but
for her it was desperate cruel。 Eh； ma'am； what she went through！ She
loved more than you'd have thought us poor human beings could。 And；
after all； the nature was in her； she didn't put it there。 I've had a deal to do
to keep down sinful thoughts since then； there's a lot of things that's wrong
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in this world； ma'am。〃
〃What did she do？〃 Alice whispered。
〃She！ She was for going away and leaving everything； she felt herself
the worst woman in the world。 It was only by begging and praying of her
on my knees that I got her to stay in the house that night； for she was so
far English； and had such a fancy； that she saw everything blacker than
any Englishwoman would； even the partick'lerest。 Afterward Master
Horace was that good and gentle； and she loved him so much； that he
persuaded her to say nothing more about it； and to try to live as if it hadn't
been。 And so she seemed to do； outward like； to other people。 But it wasn't
ever the same again。 Something had broken in them both； with him it was
his trust and his pride； but in her it was her heart。〃
〃But the childrensurely they comforted her。〃
〃Eh； miss； that was the worst。 Poor lamb； poor lamb！ Never after that
day； though they were more to her nor children ever were to a mother
before； would she have them with her。 Just a morning and a good…night
kiss； and a quarter of an hour at most； and I must take them away。 She
watched them play in the garden from her window or the little hill there；
and when they were asleep she would sit by them for hours； saying how
bonny they were and how good they were growing。 And she looked after
their clothes and their food and every little toy and pleasure； but never
came in for a romp and a chat any more。〃
〃Dear； brave heart！〃 murmured the girl。
〃Yes； ma'am； you feel for her； I know。 She was fair terrified of them
turning Maori and shaming their father。 That was it。 You didn't notice？ No；
after you came she was too ill to bear them about； and it seemed natural； I
dare say。 The Maoris are a fearful delicate set of folks。 A bad cold takes
them off into consumption directly。 And with her there was the sorrow as
well as the cold。 It was wonderful that she lived so long。〃
Alice threw her arms round Mrs。 Bentley's neck。
〃O nurse； it is all so dreadful and sad。 Couldn't we have somehow kept
her with us and made her happy？〃
The old woman held her close。 〃Nay； my dear bairn； never after that
happened。 It； or worse； might have come again。 It's something stronger in
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them than we know； it's the very blood； I'm thinking。 But she's gone to be
the angel that Dick always said she was。〃
Alice looked away over the starlit garden to where the plumy trees
stirred in the night wind。 〃No；〃 she said； fervently； 〃not 'gone to be；' nurse
dear； she was an angel always。 Dick was right。〃
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KING BILLY OF BALLARAT
BY MORLEY ROBERTS
King Billy was given to strolling up and down the streets of Ballarat
when that eviscerated city was merely in process of disembowelment；
before alluvial mining gave way to quartz…crushing； when the individual
had a chance； if a very vague one； of sudden and delightful fortune。 The
Ballarat blacks were a scaly lot； to talk of them like ill…fed hogs； as men
were wont to do。 They dwined and dwindled； as natives will before the
resources of civilisation： the bloodthirsty ones got killed out； the
rumthirsty ones died out； the wild corroboree was reduced to a poverty…
stricken imitation of its former glory。 King Billy's authority grew less with
the increase of his clothes。 The brass plate with his name on it was about
the last relic of his precarious power； and was chiefly valued as a means of
notifying the public generally that they might stand drinks to a monarch if
they saw fit and were not too humble。 He was not haughty； and never
presumed o