“Oh! Captain,” says poor Bella, and she began to blush quite innocent like, “you needn’t fear; there ain’t a girl from Shoalhaven to Albury that would let on which way you were heading, if they were to offer her all the money in the country.”

“Not even a diamond necklace and earrings? Think of a lovely pendant, a cross all brilliants, and a brooch to match, my dear girl.”

“I wouldn’t ‘come it,’ unless I could get that lovely horse of yours,” says the youngest one, Maddie; “but I’d do anything in the world to have him. He’s the greatest darling I ever saw. Wouldn’t he look stunning with a side-saddle? I’ve a great mind to ‘duff ’ him myself one of these days.”

“You shall have a ride on Rainbow next time we come,” says Starlight. “I’ve sworn never to give him away or sell him, that is as long as I’m alive; but I’ll tell you what I’ll do—I’ll leave him to you in my will.”

“How do you mean?” says she, quite excited like.

“Why, if I drop one of these fine days—and it’s on the cards any time—you shall have Rainbow; but, mind you, you’re to promise me”—here he looked very grave—” that you’ll neither sell him, nor lend him, nor give hint away as long as you live.”

“Oh! you don’t mean it,” says the girl, jumping up and clapping her hands: “I’d sooner have him than anything I ever saw in the world. Oh! I’ll take such care of him. I’ll feed him and rub him over myself; only I forgot, I’m not to have him before you’re dead. It’s rather rough on you, isn’t it?”

“Not a bit,” says Starlight; “we must all go when our time comes. If anything happens to me soon he’ll be young enough to carry you for years yet. And you’ll win all the ladies’ hackney prizes at the shows.”

“Oh! I couldn’t take him.”

“But you must now. I’ve promised him to you, and though I am a—well—an indifferent character, I never go back on my word.”

“Haven’t you anything to give me, Captain?” says Bella; “you’re in such a generous mind.”

“I must bring you something,” says he, “next time we call. What shall it be? Now’s the time to ask. I’m like the fellow in the Arabian Nights, the slave of the ring—your ring.” Here he took the girl’s hand, and pretending to look at a ring she wore took it up and kissed it. It wasn’t a very ugly one neither. “What will you have, Bella?”

“I’d like a watch and chain,” she said, pretending to look a little offended. “I suppose I may as well ask for a good thing at once.”