ubilant outcry, and it was left to Nealie to
explain the situation and ask why it was that he had asked to see her.

"My name is Wallis, of the firm of Peek & Wallis, transport agents,
Sydney," said the stranger as his hand stole up to settle his ruffled
tie, which Sylvia's greeting had half-pulled unfastened. "Mr. Melrose
sent me a cable from Cape Town, asking me to meet this boat and to be of
service to you in any way that I could. He said that he had given you a
letter of introduction to my firm. Is that so?"

"Oh yes, and I have it here in my bag!" said Nealie, pulling open the
little bag she wore slung from her shoulder and taking from it an
envelope addressed to Messrs. Peek & Wallis.

Mr. Wallis looked relieved at the sight of the letter, as it made the
position quite clear, despite its brevity, for it was really very short,
and ran as follows:--

"Kindly supply Miss Plumstead with a horse and wagon for the
journey to Hammerville, Clayton, and if she cannot pay you I will.

"Sincerely yours,

"Thomas Melrose."

"But of course our father, who is a doctor at Hammerville, will send you
the money for the horse and wagon when we reach him," said Nealie, with
the proud little lift of her head which had its due effect on Mr.
Wallis, who had a great respect for most things which were straight from
England, and who had already decided that Nealie was, to use his own
expression, "no ordinary young lady".

"Of course," echoed Mr. Wallis politely, but without anxiety. In any
case his firm would not suffer, as Mr. Melrose had undertaken to see
them paid, and so he was prepared to be very kind indeed to this family
who had made the comical mistake of supposing him to be their father.
"And now I suppose that you would like to go ashore at once and have a
look at Sydney before you start on your journey?"

Nealie hesitated and looked at Rupert, who, however, did not seem
disposed to help her out; and so again it was she who had to do the
explaining, which was quite right and proper, seeing that she was the
eldest and had always mothered the others.

Then, because Mr. Wallis was elderly, and looked kind now that he had
had some of the starch taken out of him by Sylvia's rapturous hugging,
she decided that it would be better to take him into confidence
concerning their dilemma.

"You see, it is like this," she said, boldly taki