There might have been a letter from Plymouth, but no letter came.

And then the months went by slowly.

The son did not write from Melbourne, nor from Nobble,--nor from Ahalala till gold had been found.

So it came to pass that nearly eight months had passed, and that the father had told himself again and again that his son had torn himself altogether away from all remembrance of his home, before the letter came.
It was not a long letter, but it was very satisfactory The finding of the gold was in itself, of course, a great thing; but the manner in which it was told, without triumph or exultation, but with an air of sober, industrious determination, was much more; and then there was a word or two at the end: 'Dear father,--I think of you every day, and am already looking forward to the time when I may return and see you again.' As he read it, the tears rolled down his cheeks, and unluckily the old housekeeper came into the room at the same time.
'Is it from Mr.John, sir ?' He had to recover himself, and to get rid of his tears, and to answer the old woman in an unconcerned tone, all in a moment, and it disconcerted him.
'Yes,--yes;' he said.

'I'll tell you all about it another time.' 'Is he well, sir ?' 'I daresay he is.