“No, I shan’t,” said Maud, positively. “If I don’t marry Harry Raymond, I’ll be an old maid.”
This conversation took place on the morning of Harry’s return to Melbourne. Indeed, Maud had hardly ceased speaking when a knock was heard at the door. Maud rose to open it. She was overwhelmed with delight when, in the visitor, in spite of his rough garb, she recognized our hero, the loss of whose company she had been deploring.
“O Harry, how glad I am to see you!” she exclaimed, actually hugging Harry in her delight.
Harry was rather embarrassed at the unexpected warmth of his reception, but felt that it would be impolite not to kiss Maud in return, and accordingly did so.
“I am glad to see you, Harry,” said Mr. Lindsay, advancing to meet him. “Have you just arrived from the mines?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I hope no ill luck has hurried you back.”
“Partly ill luck, and partly good luck. Bush found a nugget of gold worth at least five thousand dollars.”
“Then you had nothing to do with finding it?”