"Oh, I have seen the Southern Cross In Southern skies burn clear and bright, And I have seen the ocean toss
 
Beneath its gleam in waves of white.
 
Its beauty brought me no delight,
 
For I was on a foreign shore;
 
But now joy cometh with the sight
 
Of England's chalky cliffs once more."
 
 
Quite of the prepared for him by his now nearly forgotten wife, Sir Rupert Pethram had returned once more to England, and rejoiced greatly, in his dry fashion, to find himself again under his own roof-tree. Kaituna was delighted to have him home again, and welcomed him with a filial affection that made a deep impression on his somewhat hard nature.
 
He was not a favourite with the world, being so stiff and dry in his manner that every one felt a feeling of uneasiness towards him; consequently, he was unused to affection, except from his daughter, whom he loved fondly in his own undemonstrative fashion. A difficult man to get on with, at least people said so; and the , distant smile with which he greeted every one was enough to chill the most expressions of friendship. Not even his residence in New Zealand, where, as a rule, humanity is much more than in England, had the inherent exclusiveness of his nature. True, in his young days he had been more friendly with his fellow-creatures, but the episode of his wife's divorce had destroyed his feelings of ; and although, being an upright, gentleman, he was respected throughout the colony, he was certainly not loved. He was a man who lived entirely alone, and, except his daughter Kaituna, there was no one on whom he a thought.
 
Yet he was not uncharitable. If he saw suffering he relieved it; if any one desired help he was not backward in giving his aid; still, even the of his charity found it difficult to feel warmly towards him in any way. He did not believe in , and therefore never sought for it, but did his good deeds in a matter-of-fact fashion that robbed them of their charm in the eyes of the . It seemed as though his unhappy married life had his existence, had frozen in his breast all feelings of tenderness towards humanity, for he was a man who acted from right , and not from any feelings of impulse to relieve suffering or help his fellow-creatures.
 
In appearance he was tall, slender, and rather good-looking, with a thin, wrinkled face, grey hair, and a darkish moustache. Well dressed in a quiet fashion, undemonstrative and distant in his manners, he embarrassed all with whom he came in contact; for the well-bred coldness of his voice, and the look in his grey eyes, and the noli-me-tangere of his behaviour made every one around him feel uncomfortable.
 
With Kaituna he was always as pleasant and agreeable as he was able to be, but his daughter felt that any display of affection would be received with by her singular parent.
 
A man so straight-laced, so in the due observance of all social duties, could not but be annoyed at the absence of his daughter's chaperon at a time when he was expected home. She was Kaituna's in his absence, responsible for her in every way, and he was naturally anxious to see if Mr. Dombrain's choice was a good one.
 
Shortly after his arrival he the subject to Kaituna, while waiting for his horse to be brought round, as it was his intention to ride round the estate with Belk.
 
"Kaituna," he said, in his voice, "when do you expect this lady to return?"
 
"In about ten days, papa."
 
"Do you like her, my child?"
 
"Oh, papa, I love her."
 
Sir Rupert raised his .
 
"That is a strong expression, and a mistaken one. My child, never give your love to any one. They will betray you."
 
"Isn't that rather severe?"
 
"Not from my experience," answered Pethram, with emphasis. "But there, there! do not look so sad, child. You are young yet, and all geese are swans in your eyes. But about Mrs. Belswin. I am very much annoyed that she should have gone away at this time. It is not to me, nor in keeping with her position as your companion."
 
"But she had to go about some business, papa," said Kaituna, rather afraid at the frown she saw on her father's face.
 
"Business! business! Her business is here, child. I expect Mrs. Belswin to give all her time to you."
 
"She has done so until now."
 
"And now is the most important time, as I wish to see if she is a good companion for you."
 
"I'm sure you will like her very much, papa."
 
"Impossible. I like no one very much."
 
"Not even me?"
 
She threw her arms round Sir Rupert's neck, and his face relaxed somewhat under her smile.
 
"There, there, child!" he said, pushing her gently away, "if I have a weak spot in my heart it is for you. Now, good-bye at present I'm going to see how things are looking."
 
So he went away in the bright, breezy morning, and Kaituna was left alone in deep thought, wondering how she could tell him of the offer of marriage made to her by Archie Maxwell. She was a brave enough girl in most things, but felt decidedly reluctant to speak to her father about a subject she knew would be disagreeable to him. Archie was young, handsome, hopeful, and loved her dearly; but these four excellent qualities would seem nothing in Sir Rupert's eyes as opposed to poverty. The girl was in despair, knowing her father's iron nature as she did, and longed for the return of Mrs. Belswin, in order to have at least one friend to stand by her. It was true that Archie had declared himself ready to speak to Sir Rupert at once; but Kaituna, the refusal of her father to the engagement, persuaded him to wait until her chaperon came back. Meanwhile, she went off to her own room to read her lover's last letter; for as Archie, not being duly , could not come to the house, they were obliged to correspond in a manner, which was not without its charm to the romantic nature of Miss Pethram.
 
While, therefore, Kaituna was attending to her business, Sir Rupert was attending to his. Accompanied by Belk, he rode over the estate, looking into things, and exercised the young man's dull brains pretty by his shrewd questions concerning this and that and the other thing. Sir Rupert Pethram had not been a penniless younger son, nor graduated in New Zealand for nothing, for he knew as much about land, and crops, and cattle, and top as any man. Being thus , he took occasion to read his bailiff a severe lecture, which Belk received in sulky silence, on the slip-slop fashion in which things were conducted.
 
"When I pay my servants well," said Sir Rupert, , "I expect them to look after my interests . There has been a great deal of neglect here, and I expect you to place things on a much more satisfactory footing. Do you hear me?"
 
"Yes, sir; I'll do my best."
 
"Your best will be my worst, I'm afraid, judging from what I've seen. I'll give you a few months longer; but if you don't improve things in that time, Mr. Belk, I'm afraid you and I will have to part company."
 
Belk was in a towering rage at thus being spoken to; but, as he wanted to retain his situation, he held his tongue, nevertheless determining in his own mind that he would repay Sir Rupert for his as soon as he was able. Fortune offered him an unexpected chance, of which he took advantage.
 
Returning home with Sir Rupert, a dogcart containing two young men passed them on the road, the occupants of which nodded to Belk, whom they knew slightly.
 
"Who are those gentlemen?" asked Sir Rupert, sharply.
 
"One is Mr. Clendon, the vicar's son, sir."
 
"And the other?"
 
Belk saw his chance; for, knowing all the gossip of the place, he was aware that Kaituna's engagement was unknown to Sir Rupert; so in the hope that it would be disagreeable, he out............