Mr. Phillips was not a man to disregard a sick child’s longing at any time; and when his brother said that, though he would regret the departure of the family from England, her native air was probably the very best she could have, and the long voyage in a good ship would benefit all the children, he turned his thoughts towards Australia, as he could not have believed possible three months before.  The accounts he received from Dr. Grant as to his affairs were satisfactory enough, but the returns were not at all what he had expected; and he found that his London establishment was very costly.  He might return to England in a few years, but the children were so young they might go on with Miss Melville very well at Wiriwilta for some time.  A very fine ship was on the berth; Mr. Dempster was going in it, and several other acquaintances; so that, though he would have preferred waiting for Brandon’s report of how things were going on, he decided on leaving England before the season was so far advanced, on Emily’s account.

Mrs. Phillips was in consternation at hearing her husband say he was really going to return.

“I thought you was never going back to Australia again, Stanley.  You promised me you would not.  What will you do about the children’s education?”

“We will take Miss Melville with us, and I have no fear but that they will all do very well.  Their music, certainly, is not provided for; but something may turn up for that.  Our first business is to get them into good health.”

“But Miss Melville will never go without Alice,” said Mrs. Phillips.

“Probably not; but we can take Alice, too.”

“I thought you said we was spending too much money, and that we must retrench,” said Mrs. Phillips.

“Our children’s education is the last thing I should think of retrenching on,” answered her husband.  “I have heard you say that Alice saves her salary in your milliners’ bills.  I have scarcely seen that proved, however, Lily; but Miss Melville saves me two hundred a year—­that is clear enough, in black and white.  It would be false economy to grudge her salary.  Besides, Emily would be broken-hearted to part with Alice, so that I will offer to take both sisters with us, if they will come.”

“We don’t need such a housekeeper as Miss Melville at Wiriwilta.  The house used to keep itself,” said Mrs. Phillips.

“I know I had more trouble with it than was pleasant or convenient,” said her husband.  “I think things will go on much more comfortably there if Miss Melville continues with us; and after all their exceeding kindness and care of our poor dear children during their illness, I know that you too must be disinclined to leave them behind us.”

“Oh, yes! really they were very good to the children.  I was not strong enough to do much for them myself; and I don’t feel inclined for the voyage just at this time.  Let us go overland, and it will be sooner over.”