the new world,
more enthusiastic about his hero than ever, and eager to see as much as
possible; but they renewed their promise to be in Sydney in time to
greet poor old Mrs. Alison.

Dear old body, what a state she was in, between joy and grief, love and
terror, heart and brain. She never wavered in her maternal eagerness
to go to "poor little Henry," but what did she not imagine as to Botany
Bay? She began sewing up sovereigns in chamois-leather bags to be
dispersed all over her person against the time when she should have to
live among the burglars; and Dora, who was desperately offended, failed
to convince her that she might as well expect robbers at home.
However, the preparations were complete at last, and I took her myself
to the good people who were to have the charge of her. I had no fears
in sending her off, since Harold was sure to arrange for her
maintenance and comfort, in case of her situation not being a success;
and though I had learnt to love her, and lost in her my chaperon, I was
glad to be so far unencumbered; and to be freed from the fear that
Eustace and Hippolyta might do something harshly inconsiderate by her,
in their selfish blindness to all save themselves.

Hippolyta's fortune was in a complicated state, which made her
settlements long in being made out; and as Eustace did not wish to turn
me out till the wedding, I had time to wait to ascertain what Harold
would like me to do. I hoped that Dora was so inconvenient an
appendage that I should be allowed to keep her, but I found that
Hippolyta had designs on her--saying, truly enough, that she could
neither write nor spell and knew not a word of any language. "Poor
Lucy Alison, what could be expected of her!" So Dora was to go to the
married cousins in London, who, by thus taking her in, would be enabled
to have a superior governess for their own tribe. Poor Dora! how
fiercely she showed her love for me all those weeks of reprieve, and
how hard I laboured to impress upon her that her intended system of
defiance to the whole Horsman family was not, by any means, such a
proof of affection as either Harry or I should relish.

More letters from our travellers from New Zealand turned our attention
from our own troubles. They had reached Dunedin, and there found
Harold's letter, to announce his coming, waiting at the post-office.
The Smith family had left the place, and Mr. Smith only came or sent
from time to time when Harold's regular l