travellers seemed
confusion. Numbers of other passengers were arriving, and the deck was
littered with, their luggage until it could be sorted and sent down to
their cabins; late cargo was being swung on board and lowered into the
hold. On the deck aft were gathered the cabin passengers, with relatives
and friends who had come to see them off. An hour later the bell rang as
a signal for all visitors to go ashore. There were sad partings both
fore and aft as the bell clanged out its impatient signal.

"I am very glad, mother, that we have no friends to say good-bye to us
here, and that we got that all over at Reading."

"So am I, Wil. I think it much better myself that these partings should
be got through before people leave home. It is natural of course that
relatives and friends should like to see the last of each other, but I
think it is a cruel kindness, and am glad, as you say, that we had no
dear friends in London. Those at home have already shown their
thoughtfulness and friendship." For indeed during the last few days
hampers of presents of all kinds had arrived in a steady flow at
Eastbourne Terrace. There had been great feeling of commiseration among
all their acquaintances at the misfortune that had befallen the
Renshaws; and the manner in which they had at once surrendered
everything for the benefit of the shareholders of the bank, and the
calmness with which they had borne their reverses, had excited
admiration, and scarce a friend or acquaintance but sent substantial
tokens of their good-will or sympathy.

As soon as it was publicly known that the Renshaws were about to sail
for New Zealand, the boys and masters of the grammar-school between them
subscribed and sent a handsome double-barrelled gun, a fishing-rod, and
all appurtenances, to Wilfrid. Mr. Renshaw received two guns, several
fishing-rods, two crates of crockery, and several cases of portable
furniture of various kinds, besides many small articles. Mrs. Renshaw
was presented with a stove of the best construction and a crate full of
utensils of every kind, while Marion had work-boxes and desks sufficient
to stock a school, two sets of garden tools, and innumerable nick-nacks
likely to be more or less useful to her in her new life. Besides these
there were several boxes of books of standard literature.

"Every one is very kind," Mrs. Renshaw said as the crates and hampers
arrived; "but if it goes on like this we shall have to charter a ship to
o