do my share towards our expenses by my books, while Wilfrid could
look after the men. The offer of these two young fellows to go with us
has removed several of my objections to the plan, and I agree with you
that it would be more advantageous for Wilfrid and Marion than to be
living in wretched lodgings. Therefore, my dear, I have decided to fall
in with your plan, and only hope that it will turn out as well as you
seem to expect. It will be a great change and a great trial; but since
you seem to have set your heart upon it, I am willing to adopt your
plans instead of my own, and we will therefore consider it settled that
we will go to New Zealand."

Mrs. Renshaw was too wise a woman to point out that her husband had not,
so far as she was aware, any plans whatever of his own, and she
contented herself by saying quietly: "I am glad you have decided so, my
dear. I do think it is the best thing for us all, and I am quite sure it
is the best for Wilfrid and Marion. If it had not been for them I should
have said let us take a tiny cottage near some town where I might add to
our income by giving lessons in music or other things, and you might
have the companionship of people of your own tastes; but, being as it
is, I think it far better to give them a start in a new country,
although I know that such a life as we shall lead there must entail, at
any rate at first, some hardships, and the loss of much to which we have
been accustomed."

Wilfrid and Marion were delighted when they heard from their mother that
the matter was settled. Both had had great hopes that Wilfrid's scheme
would be finally accepted, as there did not seem any other plan that was
possible. Still Wilfrid knew the difficulty that his father would have
in making up his mind, and feared there might be a long delay before he
could bring himself to accept the plan proposed to him. Mrs. Renshaw,
who was a good business woman, lost no time in arranging with Robert and
William Grimstone as to their accompanying them. Their passage-money was
to be paid, and they were to bind themselves to remain for three years
in Mr. Renshaw's service on wages similar to those they would have
obtained at home; after that, they were to be paid whatever might be the
colonial rate of wages.

The excitement that the prospect of emigration caused to the young
people lessened their pain at leaving the house where they had been born
and brought up, with all its pleasant associations an