experience。 He who would touch the hearts of men must have had his own heart seared。 The missionaries of mankind have ever been great sinners before they earned the divine right to heal and bless。 Their weakness was made their strength； and out of their own agony of repentance came the knowledge which made them masters and saviours of their kind。 It was the agony of the Garden and the Cross that gave to the world's Preacher His kingdom in the hearts of men。 The crown of divinity is a crown of thorns。
North； on his arrival； went straight to the house of Major Vickers。 〃I have a complaint to make； sir；〃 he said。 〃I wish to lodge it formally with you。 A prisoner has been flogged to death at Port Arthur。 I saw it done。〃
Vickers bent his brow。 〃A serious accusation； Mr。 North。 I must； of course； receive it with respect； coming from you； but I trust that you have fully considered the circumstances of the case。 I always understood Captain Burgess was a most humane man。〃
North shook his head。 He would not accuse Burgess。 He would let the events speak for themselves。 〃I only ask for an inquiry；〃 said he。
〃Yes； my dear sir； I know。 Very proper indeed on your part； if you think any injustice has been done； but have you considered the expense； the delay； the immense trouble and dissatisfaction all this will give？〃
〃No trouble； no expense； no dissatisfaction； should stand in the way of humanity and justice；〃 cried North。
〃Of course not。 But will justice be done？ Are you sure you can prove your case？ Mind； I admit nothing against Captain Burgess； whom I have always considered a most worthy and zealous officer； but； supposing your charge to be true； can you prove it？〃
〃Yes。 If the witnesses speak the truth。〃
〃Who are they？〃 〃Myself； Dr。 Macklewain； the constable； and two prisoners； one of whom was flogged himself。 He will speak the truth； I believe。 The other man I have not much faith in。〃
〃Very well； then there is only a prisoner and Dr。 Macklewain； for if there has been foul play the convict…constable will not accuse the authorities。 Moreover； the doctor does not agree with you。〃
〃No？〃 cried North； amazed。
〃No。 You see； then； my dear sir； how necessary it is not to be hasty in matters of this kind。 I really thinkpardon me for my plainness that your goodness of heart has misled you。 Captain Burgess sends a report of the case。 He says the man was sentenced to a hundred lashes for gross insolence and disobedience of orders； that the doctor was present during the punishment； and that the man was thrown off by his directions after he had received fifty…six lashes。 That； after a short interval； he was found to be dead； and that the doctor made a post…mortem examination and found disease of the heart。〃
North started。 〃A post…mortem？ I never knew there had been one held。〃
〃Here is the medical certificate；〃 said Vickers； holding it out； 〃accompanied by the copies of the evidence of the constable and a letter from the Commandant。〃
Poor North took the papers and read them slowly。 They were apparently straightforward enough。 Aneurism of the ascending aorta was given as the cause of death； and the doctor frankly admitted that had he known the deceased to be suffering from that complaint he would not have permitted him to receive more than twenty…five lashes。 〃I think Macklewain is an honest man；〃 said North； doubtfully。 〃He would not dare to return a false certificate。 Yet the circumstances of the casethe horrible condition of the prisonersthe frightful story of that boy〃
〃I cannot enter into these questions； Mr。 North。 My position here is to administer the law to the best of my ability； not to question it。〃
North bowed his head to the reproof。 In some sort of justly unjust way； he felt that he deserved it。 〃I can say no more； sir。 I am afraid I am helpless in this matteras I have been in others。 I see that the evidence is against me； but it is my duty to carry my efforts as far as I can； and I will do so。〃 Vickers bowed stiffly and wished him good morning。 Authority； however well…meaning in private life； has in its official capacity a natural dislike to those dissatisfied persons who persist in pushing inquiries to extremities。
North； going out with saddened spirits； met in the passage a beautiful young girl。 It was Sylvia； coming to visit her father。 He lifted his hat and looked after her。 He guessed that she was the daughter of the man he had leftthe wife of the Captain Frere concerning whom he had heard so much。 North was a man whose morbidly excited brain was prone to strange fancies； and it seemed to him that beneath the clear blue eyes that flashed upon him for a moment； lay a hint of future sadness； in which； in some strange way； he himself was to bear part。 He stared after her figure until it disappeared； and long after the dainty presence of the young bridetrimly booted； tight…waisted； and neatly…glovedhad faded； with all its sunshine of gaiety and health； from out of his mental vision； he still saw those blue eyes and that cloud of golden hair。
CHAPTER XVII。
CAPTAIN AND MRS。 FRERE。
Sylvia had become the wife of Maurice Frere。 The wedding created excitement in the convict settlement； for Maurice Frere； though oppressed by the secret shame at open matrimony which affects men of his character； could not in decencyseeing how 〃good a thing for him〃 was this wealthy alliancedemand unceremonious nuptials。 So； after the fashion of the townthere being no 〃continent〃 or 〃Scotland〃 adjacent as a hiding place for bridal blushesthe alliance was entered into with due pomp of ball and supper； bride and bridegroom departing through the golden afternoon to the nearest of Major Vickers's stations。 Thence it had been arranged they should return after a fortnight； and take ship for Sydney。
Major Vickers； affectionate though he was to the man whom he believed to be the saviour of his child； had no notion of allowing him to live on Sylvia's fortune。 He had settled his daughter's portionten thousand poundsupon herself and children； and had informed Frere that he expected him to live upon an income of his own earning。 After many consultations between the pair； it had been arranged that a civil appointment in Sydney would best suit the bridegroom； who was to sell out of the service。 This notion was Frere's own。 He never cared for military duty； and had； moreover； private debts to no inconsiderable amount。 By selling his commission he would be enabled at once to pay these debts； and render himself eligible for any well…paid post under the Colonial Government that the interest of his father…in…law； and his own reputation as a convict disciplinarian； might procure。 Vickers would fain have kept his daughter with him； but he unselfishly acquiesced in the scheme； admitting that Frere's plea as to the comforts she would derive from the society to be found in Sydney was a valid one。
〃You can come over and see us when we get settled； papa；〃 said Sylvia； with a young matron's pride of place； 〃and we can come and see you。 Hobart Town is very pretty； but I want to see the world。〃
〃You should go to London； Poppet；〃 said Maurice； 〃that's the place。 Isn't it； sir？〃
〃Oh； London！〃 cries Sylvia； clapping her hands。 〃And Westminster Abbey； and the Tower； and St。 James's Palace； and Hyde Park； and Fleet…street！〃 'Sir；' said Dr。 Johnson； 'let us take a walk down Fleet…street。' Do you remember； in Mr。 Croker's book； Maurice？ No； you don't I know； because you only looked at the pictures； and then read Pierce Egan's account of the Topping Fight between Bob Gaynor and Ned Neal； or some such person。〃
〃Little girls should be seen and not heard；〃 said Maurice； between a laugh and a blush。 〃You have no business to read my books。〃
〃Why not？〃 she asked； with a gaiety which already seemed a little strained； 〃husband and wife should have no secrets from each other； sir。 Besides； I want you to read my books。 I am going to read Shelley to you。〃
〃Don't； my dear；〃 said Maurice simply。 〃I can't understand him。〃
This little scene took place at the dinner…table of Frere's cottage； in New Town； to which Major Vickers had been invited； in order that future plans might be discussed。
〃I don't want to go to Port Arthur；〃 said the bride； later in the evening。 〃Maurice； there can be no necessity to go there。〃
〃Well；〃 said Maurice。 〃I want to have a look at the place。 I ought to be familiar with all phases of convict discipline； you know。〃
〃There is likely to be a report ordered upon the death of a prisoner；〃 said Vickers。 〃The chaplain； a fussy but well…meaning person； has been memorializing about it。 You may as well do it as anybody else； Maurice。〃
〃Ay。 And save the expenses of the trip；〃 said Maurice。
〃But it is so melancholy；〃 cried Sylvia。
〃The most delightful place in the island； my dear。 I was there for a few days once； and I really was charmed。〃
It was remarkableso Vickers thoughthow each of these newly…mated ones had caught something of the other's manner of speech。 Sylvia was less choice in her mode of utterance； Frere more so。 He caught himself wondering which of the two methods both would finally adopt。
〃But those dogs； and sharks； and things。 Oh； Maurice； haven't we had enough of convicts？〃
〃Enough！ Why； I'm going to make my living out of 'em；〃 said Maurice； with his most natural manner。
Sylvia sighed。
〃Play something； darling；〃 said her father； and so the girl； sitting down to the piano； trilled and warbled in her pure young voice； until the Port Arthur question floated itself away upon waves of melody； and was heard of no more for that time。 But upon pursuing the subject； Sylvia found her husband firm。 He wanted to go； and he would go。 Having once assured himself that it was advantageous to him to do a certain thing； the native obstinacy of the animal urged him to do it despite all opposition from others； and Sylvia； having had her first 〃cry〃 over the question of the visit； gave up the point。 This was the first difference of their short married life； and she hastened to condone it。 In the sunshine of Love and Marriagefor Maurice at first really loved her； and love； curbing the worst part of him； brought to him； as it brings t