ht out of the world, and
had spent most of their lives on a sugar plantation in North
Queensland; the common things of our everyday existence were
marvels to them.

A clockwork train sent out to Peter with a hope that "he was not
too old for it" fascinated Eustace, despite his four years'
seniority; the exquisite little doll's dinner service for Becky set
Nesta longing to play with it and cook pretence dinners for it.

There was something for every one, and the children's eyes shone
with pleasure; but Mrs. Orban's were dim as, the unpacking over,
she turned quietly away and disappeared into the house.

In the midst of turning the pages of his new book to look for
pictures, Eustace missed her, and shortly after Mr. Orban went away
too.

"Oh!" Eustace exclaimed, slamming his book together with a big
sigh, "I do wish parcels from England didn't always make mother
sad."

"I guess she wants to see grannie and Aunt Dorothy badly," Nesta
suggested.

"Oh, it is more than that," Eustace said, getting up and moving
restlessly about. "I sometimes think she simply hates this place
and everything to do with it."

"Do you, Eustace?" asked Peter, his eyes round with wonder.

"Well, it is fearfully dull, isn't it?" Nesta said. "England must
be quite different. English stories always make me ache to go
there. It must be so awfully interesting, mustn't it?"

"Wouldn't it be splendid if father said suddenly one day we could
all go to England!" Peter cried excitedly.

"I don't think there is the least chance of that," Eustace said.
"You heard what he said about its being too expensive to take us
even to Brisbane. It would cost ten times as much to go to
England."

"I say," Nesta said quickly, "I wonder why father has to go to
Brisbane in such a hurry? Don't you, Eustace?"

"I haven't thought about it," Eustace answered. "But, anyhow,
mother doesn't like his going--that's very clear."

"Doesn't she?" Nesta asked in a surprised voice. "How _do_ you
know?"

"Didn't you see her face when father said he must go?" Eustace
asked with a touch of impatience.

Nesta shook her head.

"Oh!" was all Eustace exclaimed; then he turned, and resting his
elbows on the railings, stared straight ahead with unseeing eyes.

The Orbans' house was built on the top of an isolated hill three
hundred feet above a valley which, except where the scrub had been
cleared for the growing of sugar-cane, was thickly wooded. On three
sides of the va