that the boy would rather
suffer any torture than admit that walking was painful. He had his
reward in the look of dumb gratitude Rupert gave him when a roomy
carriage had been secured, and they were all packed in as tight as
sardines in a tin, with Don and Billykins sharing the driver's perch,
and making shrill comments as they went along.

First of all they were driven to the hotel, which was a very homely sort
of place, with a motherly manageress, who would insist on kissing the
girls, although happily she stopped short at that, leaving the boys with
a mere handshake. She was English herself, so she said, and just ached
for a sight of the old country, which made her welcome so warmly
everyone who came straight from England.

Mr. Wallis wanted them to have luncheon then, but as they all stoutly
declared that they could not touch a mouthful of food of any kind, and
as it was really early for lunch, he took them off, on a tram this time,
to see something of the city.

He took them along George Street, which, following as it does the lines
of an old bush trail, winds and wriggles in a way that was more
suggestive of Canterbury in England than of a great colonial city.
Sometimes they rode in electric trams, sometimes they had a carriage
chartered for their use, and then again it was an omnibus which had the
honour of their patronage, and Nealie privately wondered how much it
cost Mr. Wallis to take them round that day, for he would let them pay
for nothing themselves, declaring that he would not have his privilege
as their host infringed in any way.

They had lunch in a grand hotel in Wynyard Square, and afterwards went
to see the residence of the Governor-General; but imposing as were the
battlemented walls and magnificent staterooms, the greatness of the
place was not so impressive to the seven as was the General Post Office,
and they were made completely happy when Mr. Wallis took them right to
the top of the building, so that they might look out over the city from
the windows of the room under the clock chamber of the great tower.

It was small wonder that they were so tired, after such a round of
sightseeing, that they had to decline Mr. Wallis's kind proposal to take
them to a dramatic entertainment, which was being given that night in
the town hall.

Ducky, Don, and Billykins were all three so fast asleep, when they
arrived back at the hotel where they were staying, that one of the
waiters had to be called t