Now that her brother had actually made up his mind to leave England, she would also miss the change and the gaiety of a London winter, which she reckoned on having every year; so she astonished him by saying that she should like of all things to accompany them to Melbourne, and to see a little of bush life at that dear Wiriwilta that Emily was always talking about.  She did not think that she would care to stay long, but for a year or two she really thought the life would be very pleasant for a change, just to see how things were done in these outlandish uncivilized places.  She said, too, to her brother, that she thought she could be of service to Mrs. Phillips and the children.  The society of Victoria was so indifferent, that it would be desirable to form a pleasant little coterie of one’s own.  The children’s music should really be kept up; and she would be most happy to give them lessons.  If her papa and Georgiana and Vivian could only spare her for a year or two, she should really like extremely to go.  She would feel it so sad when Stanley left for an indefinite period again.

Mr. Phillips was pleased with the proposal; it showed a more friendly feeling towards his wife and family than she had ever evinced before, so he offered to pay all her outward-bound expenses, at any rate, for her.  If she liked Australia, perhaps she might stay there with them altogether; or, indeed, she might find a home for herself there, and settle in the colony.  Harriett said such a thing had never entered her head—­that she went merely on a visit; but she set about getting her outfit in a very business-like way.  It was an exceedingly busy fortnight for Jane and Elsie; but by dint of great applications to ready-made warehouses, everything was really got ready in time, and Mr. Phillips had again to admire the thoughtfulness, the foresight, and the method which Miss Melville showed in all her arrangements, while Elsie’s busy fingers were employed from morning to night in doing an endless variety of little things that were needed to supplement the ready-made stock of clothes.

Chapter XVI.

Another Good-Bye

Emily brightened up wonderfully at the prospect of a return to her old home.  She seemed to gain strength every day, and no objection could be made to her going up to Edinburgh to pay her long-promised visit to Peggy Walker before she left England.  Mr. and Mrs. Phillips and little Harriett accompanied her, and they took Jane Melville with them, for Elsie could not be spared from the needlework, and she did not wish so much to go to Scotland as Jane did.

Peggy was delighted to see her two nurslings, and also to see the young lady to whom she had given a home when she most needed one.  Tom eagerly showed Jane what he had done in her absence, and received the commendation he deserved for his industry and his success.  Grandfather was very weak, but in very tolerable spirits; this visit from Peggy’s friends would be something for him to think on for the short remainder of his life.  Mrs. Phillips’s beauty and her fine clothes were something new to him; and the liveliness of the girls, and the politeness of their father, and Miss Jean’s kind inquiries and kind looks all did him good.