mountains and among the Blacks' old Bora grounds sounded so delightfully romantic."
Then Lord Horace told them of the corroboree he was working, and it was decided that the Hallett party should stay at the Dell for this event.
Blake seemed to avoid Elsie during this short Tunimba sojourn. He and Trant were going to ride over to Baròlin after dinner, and. Lord Horace was persuaded into the moonlight ride also—their ways lying together for a certain distance. Trant, however, took every opportunity of getting to Miss Valliant's side, and devoured her all the time with his bold gaze in a manner that annoyed Hallett extremely.
"I think the fellow must have been drinking," he said afterwards to his brother. "He reminded me of that new chum who went on the burst, and those black eyes of his have a queer reckless way of staring at one."
But Trant had not been drinking; he was only intoxicated with love.
"Miss Valliant, when are you going to be married?" he said abruptly.
"I don't know," answered Elsie, composedly. She was not afraid of Trant; indeed, if it must be owned, there was a kind of excitement in the sight of his passion, which took her mind away from the flatness of a wooing that had esteem only as a responding quality. "Not for some time yet," she added.
"Well, remember," he said, "I mean to have my chance. I've not had my chance yet."
"Your chance of what?" she asked.
"Of making you care for me; of doing something that will oblige you to admire me."
"I can't imagine an opportunity for your being heroic," said Elsie, "but I shall be delighted to admire you if you give me an occasion for doing so."
"We shall see," said Trant, darkly.
Blake asked the same question, but in a very different tone.
