pay for it if he gets waxy, but
of course I have had no lunch, and, seeing that the shipping company
have got to keep me, I do not see that it matters much whether I eat
half a pound of butter for my meal or whether I have two goes of meat
and three of pudding. Hullo, who is that?"

The exclamation was caused by someone pounding on the door for
admittance, and when Rumple found that the someone was the ship's
doctor, great was his wrath at the coddling which Nealie had supposed to
be necessary for him. But the doctor roared with laughter when he heard
about the butter, and Rumple was so far mollified by his mirth as to be
beguiled into laughing also, after which he was rolled in blankets and
promptly went to sleep, not rousing again until the following morning,
when he appeared to be none the worse for his adventure among the ice.

But someone must have dropped a hint to the indiscreet Miss Clarke and
her mother, because from that time onward they left Rumple in peace, so
far as kissing was concerned, although they seemed to be just as fond of
him as ever.

The seven were all getting just a little bit weary of voyaging when at
length the boat entered the fine harbour of Sydney, and berthed among
the other vessels at the Circular Quay.

Then, indeed, things became exciting, and although they knew that their
father had not had the first letter which had been sent to him, there
was still the probability that he had received a later letter from Mr.
Runciman, and that he might be among the crowd who were waiting to board
the liner when she came to her berth, beside the big vessel from
Hong-Kong.

They were gathered in a group forward, and were eagerly scanning all
that could be seen of the shore, when one of the stewards came hurrying
up to say that a gentleman had come on board for Miss Plumstead, and was
at that moment waiting to see her in the dining saloon.

"Oh, it must be dear Father; I am quite sure of it!" cried Nealie, and,
seizing Ducky by the hand, she hurried away down to the big dining
saloon, followed by the other five.

Very different the big room looked to-day from the time when they had
seen it first. Then the tables were spread for a meal, and decorated
with flowers and fruit; now everything was in confusion, the tables were
bare, or heaped with the hand baggage of departing passengers, and there
was an air of desolation over all, such as is seen in a house from which
a family are flitting.

But