to him and his; cherish them as you would have cherished us, had God seen fit for us to remain with you."

Much would Emily have liked to visit Glen Ness once more, but that was not to be thought of, though she daily gained strength, daily drove out into the country, and began once more to wear her usual happy smile, that happy smile that had so long been displaced by a look of care. She had all manner of kind words and wishes to send to her Glen Ness friends. Maggie-for she and her husband were to accompany Gilbert on his farewell visit had all sorts of commissions to perform ;particularly was she not to fail to procure a sprig of wattle, and another of passion-flower, from the little forsaken cottage, her first dear home, and two or three pebbles from "Gilbert's study," little relics to be treasured in other days. "I shall like to look at them, Maggie, when I am far away," she said. "They will remind me of many happy Glen Ness days. I do not want to take all painful memories away with me."

"And will you have nothing from Hawthorn?" asked Maggie, half poutingly.

"Yes, if you will bring me something," said Emily, smiling.

"Is there anything you would like to reserve of our Glen Ness furniture?" asked Gilbert, the evening before he went. "We shall have to furnish afresh, dear. It would not be worth while taking what we have."

"Must we sell them ?" asked Emily, in dismay. "Oh yes, I should like a few things, packable things.

All my pretty things, my ornaments, and china, and those sort of things."

"Well, make out a list, dear. Mrs. Hugh will see to the packing for you; give it to her."

A thorough breaking up of home, indeed. Well, that signified little, if the Lord went with them, and Emily believed He would.

It had been rumoured in Glen Ness that, with the bride and bridegroom, their minister, Mr. Owen, was about to return. The rumour had, moreover, become pretty rife that he would return without Mrs. Owen, and that this, after all, was only a farewell visit. He was going permanently to leave them. The rumour reached certainty, when strange preparations were seen transpiring in "Crossly's house;" and, after sundry packages of minor articles, with which Mrs. Hugh Spencer had much to do, large bills, proclaiming an early day for the sale of the remaining portion of the effects, were seen posted in various parts of the township.

"Why, you're not going to leave us," said Lamont, encountering his minister in the middle of the road, the day after his arrival. "We thought you were going to settle down comfortable among us."

"Are you sure you wanted it, Lamont ?" asked Gilbert, with an incredulous smile. "No, I believe my work is done here. The Lord has called me to another part of His vineyard."

There were plenty of lamentations, even on the part of those who had behaved most unkindly, when they found that the rumour was really true, and their pastor was indeed going to leave them. The sale came first, and passed off well and rapidly.

Gilbert Owen realised handsomely by his furniture, for friends were there who bid high, because they coveted the articles that belonged to him. Gordon was one of these friends.

Mr.

"We must have something to remind us of you," he said, laughingly, shouldering the great easy chair that had just been knocked down to him at a good round sum. "The money will be useful to him," he remarked, in an undertone, to his wife; "that's a comfort, anyhow!"

And so the sale passed off. The Sabbath service was the next thing; and, at an early hour the little chapel was thronged. Painful to both pastor and people was this parting service. Sorrowful to those who loved, and had continued faithful to him; bitterly humiliating to those whose conduct had proved widely the reverse. This morning service lived long in the memory of many at Glen Ness, and the impressive manner in which Mr. Owen repeated the words, "I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God."

The evening service left but few dry eyes in the chapel, and as their pastor, so long listened to with indifference, boldly stood up in their midst, exclaiming in the words of Paul, "Be ye reconciled to God," his message sank down into the recesses of some hearts that night that had as yet never bowed beneath the Gospel sound. Verily, Gilbert Owen had been baptised with sharp and heavy trials, but through it all had come out more earnest, more intent upon his work than ever.

What a scene in the little chapel yard. What shakings of hands; what well wishes; what en

treaties from some to remain. The little assembly broke up at last, many departing "sorrowing most of all that they should see his face no more.”

And once more Gilbert Owen, having taken his last look at Glen Ness, seen his last of some of his old and tried friends, was on his way back to Adelaide, with Hugh and Maggie.

"We must see the last of them, mother," said Maggie, and Mrs. Gordon approved.

"You, father, and I will be down at the port, to see them on board," she replied, as she wished Maggie "Good-bye."

A A

CHAPTER LXV., AND LAST.

ADIEU.

""Tis sweet to move

Gladly from one to another strand,
Guided by some invisible hand."

LOVELY weather. September was excelling itself. Flowers and early fruit were in perfection, and trees in glorious beauty.

"I wonder whether I shall like Victoria as well as I do South Australia," said Emily, with a half sigh, as she quietly assisted in some light packing that alone remained to do. The majority of their boxes were already on board.

"Like it, sis?" said Edward Ashley, gaily. "You will like it better. See if that will not be your verdict when we come to see you in your new home, among your new people."

"You will come?" Emily's tone almost betokened tears.

"Of course we shall, too glad of the chance; never fear that, Em."

"And Hugh says he shall bring me some day, dear Mrs. Owen," said Maggie; "so our adieu is by no means final.”