’They petitioned to remain until the tide was at the flow, when they could readily get their big canoes afloat.  But I was firm, fearing that if they lingered they might mix with the townspeople, be chaffed, and retaliate.  Besides, I was determined that they should, as a lesson in humility, have the labour and indignity of pulling their canoes over the shingle.  It vexed them sore, after having arrived with a war-whoop, to be obliged to beat so menial a retreat.  However, they must submit to the toil and the jeers they had laid up for themselves, by their behaviour.  As they were exhausted, I granted them leave to remain for the night at a pa, some miles distant from Auckland.  Next day they forwarded me a penitent letter, through Selwyn, if I remember aright.

’The folks of Auckland had all turned out to witness the sport, and were very proud of the successful result.  They were convinced, most of them, that they had something to do with bringing it about.  A picture of the scene was painted to commemorate it.  What worried me, was that I was made to look so young beside my officers—­younger really than I was.  Earlier, Peel had said of me, on the same text, that youth ought to be no bar to public employment, and that, anyhow, it was a fault which was always mending.’

Sir George Grey had established New Zealand with peace, and an ever rising prosperity.  The two fondled these isles, as the Pacific Ocean lapped their shores.  ‘On your arrival,’ wrote the Maoris in one of their many farewell addresses to him, ’the rain was beating, and the wind blowing fiercely; and then you lifted up your voice to calm the raging elements.’

England needed his spell elsewhere.

XII IN THE QUEEN’S NAME

The example of one gallant-minded, stout cadet, was maybe with Carlyle when he pictured the Queen in Council to pick out some other, still unoccupied, and adjure him in royal words: 

’Young fellow, if there do be in you potentialities of governing, a gradual finding, leading, and coercing to a noble goal, how sad it is that that should be all lost.  I have scores on scores of colonies.  One of these you shall have.  Go and grapple with it in the name of Heaven, and let us see what you will build of it.’

To Carlyle Sir George Grey might have gone, and laid at his feet South Australia and New Zealand.  He had been their fairy autocrat during fourteen years; and the rugged outlooker at Chelsea would have admitted them to be healthy brats.  New Zealand having been fitted with her Parliament, Sir George turned his face homeward, on leave of absence, Selwyn a fellow voyager.  Mother’s boy and mother hoped to meet once more, but it was not, to be.  The Motherland had kept the servant too long on duty, but he grudged her not even that.

‘My mother,’ said Sir George softly, ’had been in frail health for some time, and I was always hoping to get home on her account.  She heard that our ship had been signalled in the English Channel, then that I had landed, and she waited my appearance with loving expectation.  My young step-brother entered her room, and mistaking him for me, she grasped his hand in thankfulness.  The thing excited her, so very weak was she, and her death took place before I could reach her.  Happily, I had at least the consolation that she believed she had seen me.’