ough he said very little, he was secretly a good
deal gratified and pleased. His own early hardships had taught him the
inestimable value of learning self-dependence and plucky endurance,
and it was not without some regret he viewed a future for the girls
entirely of rose leaves. Yet how could it very well be otherwise?
When, however, Meryl pleadingly asked him to take them to Rhodesia
with him, he perceived that the trip might be beneficial in more ways
than one.

"You probably don't understand," he told her quietly, "that I am going
on a business, prospecting trip. I am going right away from hotels and
railways to see mines, and I don't intend to be bothered with anything
elaborate in the way of an outfit. I suppose I shall take a tent, and
travel in a travelling ambulance, but certainly nothing out of the way
in food or equipment. You would have to do the same, and as you know
absolutely nothing in the world about 'roughing it,' you probably
wouldn't like it at all."

"But that is just what we should like," Meryl urged. "That is one
reason why we want to come."

They were sitting in the smoke-room with him, as was often their habit
in the evening, preferring it, as he did, to the stately drawing-room.

Meryl sat on a footstool near him, watching his face anxiously, while
Diana, with an open book on her knee, listened from the depths of an
enormous arm-chair in which she had curled herself.

"Shouldn't we ever need to wash?" she asked suddenly, in a sprightly
voice that set them all laughing.

"Well, it's a hot country, you know," said her uncle, "but it might be
more or less optional."

"Scrumptious!" and Diana snoozled lower into her chair.

"Uncouth," remarked Aunt Emily, disapprovingly.

"Or do you mean unclean?" enquired the sinner.

"It is quite the maddest idea I ever heard of." Ignoring her, and
growing more and more mournful, the poor lady heaved a deep sigh.

"But need you be bothered with us?" enquired Meryl, diplomatically.
"Wouldn't you rather have a nice quiet summer in England?"

"And let you go alone?... How could I?... Your father will be much
engaged with his business, and it would be most unseemly for two girls
of your age to be left so much alone. I believe it is a dreadful
country, but if you can face it, I think I can find the courage to
come with you."

"Think you can bear it, aunty?..." chirped the voice from the
arm-chair, and Meryl frowned in a little aside at the snoozler.