ker smiled his
thanks, and wished for more masculine lady customers.

There were more peaceful purchases to be made, though. Cases of seeds
were ordered, and the seedsman undertook to pack and send in the autumn
a couple of bundles of fruit trees for experimental purposes.

"For I want your father to try and make a good English garden out there,
Dominic," said Lady O'Hara enthusiastically. "Australia must become the
home of many of our people; and though it is right on the other side of
the world, we don't want it to remain foreign, but English."

Those four weeks went like magic, and when only two days remained the
list of purchases was pretty well complete, and included horses, cows,
and sheep of select kinds, and a couple of retrievers, setters, and
Scotch collie dogs.

They had been twice to the East India Docks, from which the ship was to
sail, and now another visit was to be paid to make sure that the various
packages had been delivered on board, to see to the live stock, and to
have another look at the cabin.

"There, Dominic," said her ladyship at last, "I think I may say that I
have--that we have--done all our work. Now two days to pay a few
visits, and then we go on board for our long, long journey. How do you
feel--ready for the start?"

"Quite," said Dominic eagerly.

"That's right. We start with the knowledge that our home is ready made
out yonder. What must it have been for the brave folk who acted as
pioneers, not knowing what they were going to find?"

That was mental food for the night; but Nic's busy days precluded his
being troubled with sleeplessness, and he lay down to dream of the
far-off home, and woke to say, in his intense eagerness:

"Only one more day, and then--off!"

CHAPTER FIVE.

OUTWARD BOUND.

"But why not go on board to-night?" asked Nic.

"Because," said Lady O'Hara drily, "it will be better to leave it till
to-morrow."

Nic wondered, and said nothing, but he knew afterwards. The fact was,
he did not think about anything for long. There was too much to see and
do. One thought crowded out another. This minute he would be wondering
how the dogs were, the next whether cows were ever sea-sick, and this
made him wonder whether Dominic Braydon, off on his first voyage, would
suffer from that most unpleasant ailment. There were the new clothes to
think about, and the guns. It happened, too, that while he was thinking
about them Lady O'Hara, looking worried an