"And _do_ you think, sir, it is a country where George will be able
to do any good. And will he have his health in that land, so far from
every one to take care of him?"

And this doubt raised, the bright eyes were dimmed with tears in a
moment.

Meadows gasped out, "Why not? why not?" but soon after, muttering some
excuse about his horse, he went out with a promise to return
immediately.

He was no sooner alone than he gave way to a burst of rage and
bitterness.

"So, she only sent for me here to make me tell her about that infernal
country where her George is. I'll ride home this instant--this very
instant--without bidding them good-by."

Cooler thoughts came. He mused deeply a few minutes, and then,
clinching his teeth, returned slowly to the little parlor: he sat down
and took his line with a brisk and cheerful air.

"You were asking me some questions about Australia. I can tell you all
about that country, for I have a relation there who writes to me. And
I have read all the books about it, too, as it happens."

Susan brightened up.

Meadows, by a great histrionic effort, brightened up, too, and poured
out a flood of really interesting facts and anecdotes about this