The editor looked up as his little daughter and Basil entered, and Edith immediately took upon herself the office of mistress of the ceremonies.
"This is Basil, father." The editor nodded. "He is going to spend the whole day with us."
"He is welcome," said the editor, who knew Basil by sight.
Basil smilingly explained that little Edith had taken entire possession, and was responsible for his intrusion.
"But you are not intruding," said the editor. "We shall be very pleased of your company. Our hive is ruled by a positive Queen Bee, and there she stands"--with an affectionate look at his daughter, who accepted her title with amusing gravity--"so that we cannot exactly help ourselves."
His tone was exceedingly cordial, and Basil, being heartily welcomed by Edith's mother, soon made himself at home. The young man's manners were very winning and afforded pleasure to Edith's parents, who had not, at least on the goldfields, met with a guest of so much culture and refinement. Regarding Basil as her special property, Edith pretty well monopolised his attention in the intervals between meals, but sufficient of Basil's character was revealed to the editor to set him thinking. He saw that he was entertaining a gentleman and a man of attainments, and he felt how valuable such an assistant would be on the editorial staff of his newspaper. The journalists in his employ had sprung out of the rough elements of colonial life, and although they were fairly capable men, they lacked the polish which Basil possessed. The result of his reflections was that before the day was out he made Basil a business proposition.
"It occurs to me," said the shrewd fellow, "that you are not exactly cut out for a digger's life."
"I am afraid you are right," said Basil, with a smile in which a touch of sadness might be detected.
"Why not try something else?" asked the editor.
"It is difficult to know what," replied Basil; "there are so few things for which I am fitted."
"There is one in which you would make your mark."
"May I know what it is? I may differ from you; but it would be a pleasant hearing."
"Sub-editor of the _Princetown Argus_, for instance," suggested the editor, coming straight to the point. He was not the kind of man to take two bites at a cherry.