“No; we cannot go overland; there is very little pleasure going overland with four young children, and as I suppose you will want one servant, as well as Miss Melville and Alice, you must think of the expense.”

“I hate the sea, and you know I must be on shore before the end of February.  And you recollect Mr. Brandon, for all his difficulties—­saying he was ruined and all that sort of thing—­would have gone overland, if he had only had his letters soon enough.”

“Because he was only one, or, with Edgar, two, and time was of more importance to him than the difference in passage-money.  A fine long voyage will restore our children to health, and it does not matter to me being a month or two longer on the voyage.  I think we are sure to be in Melbourne time enough for you.  If it were only you and myself, Lily, there is nothing I should like so much as the overland route.  There is so much that I should like to see and to show to you, but under present circumstances it is impossible.”

No arrangement could have suited Jane and Elsie so well as Mr. Phillips’s proposal, as a personal favour to himself, that they should accompany his family to Melbourne.  It was the destination they had long aimed at; and as they were neither of the station nor qualifications to obtain free passages in any immigrant ship, they joyfully agreed to his liberal offer.

“But,” said Jane, “we must be perfectly frank with you.  We have had a great desire to begin business in Melbourne together.  We must tell you that we have often planned to join our savings to those of Peggy Walker, when she returns to Melbourne, as she will probably do ere long.  Plans, of course, may not be carried out, but if ours are, we may leave you when you depend most on us.  I am quite satisfied with my position in your family, but——­”

“But neither you nor I are quite satisfied with your sister’s,” interposed Mr. Phillips.  “It was the best arrangement that at the time could have been made; but you would never consent to go with us to Australia, and leave Alice to work here by herself; so, if she sees anything, either in Melbourne or in the bush that will suit her better, she is quite free to accept of it, and to leave Mrs. Phillips.  Her services and your services to our children in this recent affliction can never be forgotten by us.  I can assure you, Mrs. Phillips feels deeply indebted to both of you.”

The party to Australia was increased from an unexpected quarter.  Harriett Phillips had found that she had made no impression whatever on Mr. Hogarth.  He had paid his visit to her father, but had taken almost no notice of her, who had been the person who invited him:  in fact, he had markedly preferred her elder sister.  His head had apparently been so full of politics, or something else, that he had not been half so agreeable as when she had met him in London, so that she was now very sorry that she had treated Mr. Brandon so cruelly during the last days of his stay in England.  He certainly would have proposed if she had not discouraged him so much; it was really almost wrong in her to try to make him jealous, and she had succeeded only too well.  After having entertained the idea that she could be married to him if she pleased for several months, she missed the pleasing excitement of a lover when she returned to her flat country life.