Naturally, Aurora’s popularity was greatly increased, and the tent of Mrs. Ben Kyley became a favourite rendezvous.  The girl’s good looks and her good and Mrs. Kyley’s own breezy, genial disposition, were sufficient to assure a large interest on the part of the men; but Aurora, in taking action against the troopers, had identified herself with the enemies of officialdom.  Thenceforth she was a public character.  There were not so many women about the rush but that scores of sober, reputable diggers would have travelled far and drunk much indifferent rum merely for the privilege of gazing upon the merry, handsome face of a girl like Aurora Griffiths.  Now she was in some measure their championess there was more reason for offering devotion at her shrine, and Kyley’s saw busy nights.

‘Why did you do it?’ asked Jim a few nights later, throwing into his words a hint of reproach.  Done was unconsciously assuming some little air of proprietorship over Aurora.  Whenever the girl noticed it smiles sparkled in the corners of her brown eyes.

‘Pure devilment!  What else?’ she answered.

‘Wasn’t it a little—­just a little—­’ He was at a loss to express himself, and Aurora’s laugh chimed in.

‘The dear boy’s brought his sinse iv propriety wid him!’ she cried.  ‘Maybe ye’ have a few words to say on moral conduct an’ the dacent observances iv polite society, an’ ye’ll be axin’ me to put on a proper decorum before the min.  Arrah! ye have some purty maxims for young ladies, an’ a heap iv illegant an’ rare ideals iv yer own as to what’s good an’ becomin’ in young persons iv the other sex, haven’t ye, dear?’

‘No, no, no!’ cried Done, shocked to find how easily he had slipped into the attitude of the common moralist.

’I stand on my merits and my lack of them, Jimmy.  There’s only one of me here!’ She touched her breast.  ’And good, bad, or indifferent, my friends must take me whole.’

‘Whole, then.’

‘Wait, boy, you don’t know a fifth of it yet.’

‘Do your worst, and test my devotion, Aurora.  I defy you!’ Jim was getting on.

‘Devil doubt you.  You’re a bold man, Mister Jimmy Done, an’ I like your cheek, for all it’s as smooth as my own.’  She touched his face caressingly with her fingers, and turned to serve clamouring customers at the other end of the counter.

‘Good-night, mate,’ said a quiet voice at Jim’s elbow.  Done turned quickly, and started back a step with some amazement on beholding the pale, impassive face of the stranger who had attacked Stony at their camp in the Black Forest.  The man was smoking a cigar.  He was dressed after the manner of a successful digger, with a touch of vanity.  He regarded Jim earnestly, and the young man experienced again the peculiar feeling the first sight of this stranger had provoked.

‘Good-night,’ he said.

‘I see you recollect me.’

‘Oh yes.  Did Stony quite escape you that night?’