able
to throw some entirely new light upon the origin and history of the
Maoris or natives of New Zealand, and that his book would greatly add to
his reputation, and would sell well. Really the idea was not such a very
bad one, and, for himself, he should certainly prefer a life in a new
country to shabby lodgings in some out-of-the-way place, after having
for so many years been a personage of importance in his own
neighbourhood.

"I see one great objection to your scheme, Helen, and that is that there
is a war going on with the Maoris."

"I know there is," Mrs. Renshaw, who had talked the matter over with
Wilfrid, replied; "but it is confined to two or three of the tribes, and
the settlers in other parts have been in no way disturbed. The troops
have taken most of their strongholds, and the troubles are considered to
be approaching an end; therefore I do not think there is any occasion
to be uneasy on that score. Besides, in some respects the trouble will
be advantageous, as we should probably be able to buy land cheaper than
we otherwise should have done, and the land will rapidly rise in value
again when the disturbances are over. But, of course, we should not go
to the disturbed districts. These are round Auckland and New Plymouth,
and the troubles are confined to the tribes there. Everything is
perfectly peaceable along the other parts of the coast."

It was not until two or three days before the move was to be made from
the house that Mrs. Renshaw recurred to the subject.

"You have not said yet, Alfred, what plans you have decided upon. As we
shall leave here in three days it is quite time that we made up our
minds about it, as, of course, our movements must depend on your
decision. If you have fixed upon any place for us to settle down in, it
would be cheaper for us to move there at once instead of wasting money
by going up to London first. Another reason I have for asking is, that
Robert and William Grimstone, the gardener's sons, who have got an idea
from something Wilfrid said to them that we might be going abroad, have
asked him to ask you if you would take them with you. They have been
working in the garden under their father for the last two or three
years, and are strong active young fellows of nineteen and twenty. As
their father has worked here ever since we came, and we have known the
young fellows since they were children, such an arrangement would have
been a very pleasant one had you liked my pl