defined line against the clear sky; while, on the left arose Mount
Warreneip like an undulating mound and, further along, Mount
Bunniyong, with the same appearance.

All this wonderful panorama, however, was so familiar to Kitty and
her lover that they did not trouble themselves to look much at it;
but the girl sat down under the big rock, and Vandeloup flung
himself lazily at her feet.

'Bebe,' said Vandeloup, who had given her this pet name, 'how long
is this sort of life going to last?'

Kitty looked down at him with a vague feeling of terror at her
heart. She had never known any life but the simple one she was now
leading, and could not imagine it coming to an end.

'I'm getting tired of it,' said Vandeloup, lying back on the grass,
and, putting his hands under his head, stared idly at the blue sky.
'Unfortunately, human life is so short nowadays that we cannot
afford to waste a moment of it. I am not suited for a lotus-eating
existence, and I think I shall go to Melbourne.'

'And leave me?' cried Kitty, in dismay, never having contemplated
such a thing as likely to happen.

'That depends on yourself, Bebe,' said her lover, quickly rolling
over and looking steadily at her, with his chin resting on his
hands; 'will you come with me?'

'As your wife?' murmured Kitty, whose innocent mind never dreamt of