“No fear of that.  I have no fancy for strong-minded women.  Not but what I like a good understanding and good sense in a lady, but let each sex keep to its own department.  But, Miss Phillips, if you really want to go to Wiriwilta, I can drive you up—­or, better still, you could ride.  You are an admirable horsewoman, as I know, and I have an excellent horse in town that would carry you easily that distance without fatiguing you.  It would be a beautiful ride.  You would see the country so well as you go along.”

“I should like to go, of all things,” said Harriett; “but what would Stanley say?”

“Oh, I will tell him it was quite unnecessary for you to stay with Mrs. Phillips, and it will be the easier for his horses to bring up the rest of them, if you have gone before,” said Grant.

“Well, I am really tired of Melbourne; I think I have seen all that is to be seen, and I dare say there are some preparations and arrangements I could make before Mrs. Phillips comes up, so as to make her more comfortable, though I dare say Miss Melville has done her best.  Still, there are things that one of the family can do which strangers cannot be expected to attend to.”

“Certainly,” said Dr. Grant; “I can imagine your presence at Wiriwilta will make things more comfortable for all parties.”

“And, by-the-by, Emily and Harriett will be neglecting their music, and I engaged to see to that so long as I remained in Victoria, as Miss Melville knows no music.”

“No music!” said Dr. Grant; “that is a singular sort of governess to engage for young ladies up the country.”

“She is wonderfully clever about other things, and brings on the children very nicely.  When I compare them with the girls of their own age whom I have seen in Melbourne, I cannot help congratulating my brother on having brought out a governess with him.  It would have been better, of course, if she had been English, but Miss Melville is not painfully Scotch.”

“I hope you have no dislike to Scotch people,” said Grant.  “I myself glory in my country.”

“Oh, I quite understand your feelings.  If I had been born in Scotland, I should have felt the same, I dare say,” said Harriett.

“But, with regard to this drive or ride to Wiriwilta?” said Grant.

“How long should we be on the road?” asked Harriett.

“Two days, I think.  We would stay all night at Mrs. Ballantyne’s, a very old friend of mine, and an acquaintance of your brother.  Ballantyne and I were fellow-passengers when we first came out.  They will receive you with bush hospitality.  I should like to introduce you to Scotch bush hospitality, and it is a pretty place, too; rather romantically situated.”

“I should really like to see it, for I want to study Australian scenery and Australian manners during my short stay in the colony, to see as much as I can while I am among you savages.”

“Then, shall it be a ride or a drive?” asked Dr. Grant.