The advice of both grandmother and aunt was to the effect that Mrs. Holmes should take advantage of her brother’s kindness, and entrust Edgar to his care.  It was not without a great effort that she made up her mind to part with her son, and she had many serious compunctions of conscience afterwards; but as his letters home were regular and very prettily expressed, and as his uncle Walter generally added a few lines to say that the boy was doing remark ably well, and growing strong and large, she took comfort, and hoped that all was for the best.

Brandon was rather surprised at the cool reception he got from Harriett Phillips on his return; it was a relief to him to see that she could part from him without regret, for he felt none at leaving her.  He had been putting on his Australian set of feelings, and preparing to like his bush life very much, as he had done in reality before.  He had Edgar with him when he came to bid the Phillipses goodbye, and Emily was much amused at the idea of this model lad going out to Melbourne in a large ship, and seeing dear Wiriwilta before she could do so.  She gave him messages to some of the people, and desired him to inquire after the welfare of her pet opossum and her rose-crested cockatoo, and write her a full, true, and particular account of them all, and of how he liked the colony, which Edgar readily promised to do.

“And so this Mr. Hogarth has left London, Emily?” said Mr. Brandon.

“Oh, he has gone home to see about getting into Parliament—­what stupid work it must be!”

“Don’t talk so absurdly,” said Aunt Harriett.

“I see by the newspapers that he is likely to be put up; and you think it stupid work, Emily, do you?  You are a young lady of taste.  I think the same.”

“He is quite sure of success,” said Harriett Phillips, who thought the question and remarks might have been addressed to her, as the best informed person in the house.

“Miss Melville will be pleased at her cousin’s going into the political line,” said he.

“Indeed, we are all pleased.  I never saw any one so fitted to shine in Parliament,” said Harriett.  “He has promised, when the election is over, to visit papa; their politics will suit, I think.”

“And how is Miss Melville?” asked Brandon.

“Quite well, she is always well; but we have been very much troubled about servants of late.  I believe really that all the good servants have gone to Australia, for we cannot hear of a housemaid or nurse to suit us, and it puts every one about.  I know it annoys me, and Miss Melville (who holds rather a singular combination of employments, and I must say that she certainly discharges both of them extremely well) is particularly engaged just now, making up her housekeeping books.”

“And how is Miss Alice Melville?  She is not so invariably well as her sister is.”

“No, she mopes more.  She has not half the spirit of Miss Melville; but I believe she is quite well just now.”