nd pounds unless we go into a hovel and live on
bread and water."

"I quite see that, Wilfrid; but I am sure I do not see how we are to
earn money. It is far too late for your father to go back to the bar
now, and it might be years before he got a brief. At any rate, we could
not afford to live in London till he does so. I have been thinking I
might open a little school somewhere."

[Illustration: Sketch Map of WAIROA AND POVERTY BAY DISTRICTS NORTH
ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND]

The boy waved his hand.

"No, mother, you are not going to take us all on to your shoulders. You
have got to look after father; that will be a full share of the work, I
am sure. Marion and I have been talking it over, and the only possible
thing we can see is for us to emigrate."

"To emigrate!" Mrs. Renshaw repeated in astonishment. "Why, my dear boy,
what should we be fit for in the colonies more than here?"

"A good deal, mother. A thousand pounds is nothing here, and it would be
a good deal out there. It would be horrible to come down to live in a
little cottage like working people here, after living like this; but it
would be nothing out there. We could buy land for next to nothing in New
Zealand, and could employ a couple of men to work with me to clear it
and cultivate it; and get a few cows and sheep to start with, and still
have a little money in hand. You and Marion could look after things
indoors; I should look after things out of doors."

"You don't seem to count your father at all," Mrs. Renshaw said a little
reproachfully.

"No, mother, I don't," Wilfrid said bluntly. "You know as well as I do
that father would be of no use to speak of in a life like that. Still, I
think he could make himself happy out there as well as here. He could
take all his books with him, and could inquire into the manners and
customs of the natives, who are every bit as good as the ancient
Britons; better, I should say. But whatever we do, mother, whether it is
here or anywhere else, we must settle upon it and do it Of course we
must consult him; but we must quite make up our minds before we do so.
If you wait a few weeks for father to make up his mind what we had
better do, we shall wait till this thousand pounds is spent and there is
nothing to do but to go into the workhouse.

"I am sure that my plan is the best for us. I am as strong as a great
many men; and anyhow, out there, there ought to be no fear about our
keeping ourselves. I have no doubt tha