e steam-boat offices and took a
double-berthed cabin in the names of Miss Walker and Miss Williams,
having previously found out that neither Hal nor Reg had booked berths.

"I noticed, May," said Hil, nudging her and smiling maliciously, "that
you let slip their Christian names. Hal and Reg. They are very nice
names. Which do you like the better of the two?"

"The names or the men?" queried May.

"Say the men for argument's sake."

"Well, I think I rather like Reg, although both are good fellows. I felt
for Reg though, awfully, when he told me his sad story."

"And Hal?"

"An awfully nice fellow and, I should say, very clever and a valuable
help to Reg, I should think. While Reg is all earnestness and
determination Hal seems to be quick at grasping situations and between
the two, to say nothing of ourselves, Wyck is likely to have a bad
time."

"Be quick and let us get out of sight, for what would Society say if I
was discovered going on this errand? There are so many of the Mrs.
Grundy type who would be delighted to put it in print."

"But, surely, you don't mind?"

"No, my dear, I once taught Society a lesson it will not forget. I was
thinking of your father, he is propriety itself."

"Quite right, Hil, we must not be seen and, as I think we have
everything now, we had better lose no time in getting on board."

Thus Hil and May, whom we shall know for the future as "the girls" went
on board the _Maranoa_, and at two o'clock the good ship left the
harbour for Brisbane.

CHAPTER XIX.

HIL.

While the two steamers are ploughing their way to Brisbane, the one with
the boys, the other with the girls, on board, it will not be amiss if
the narrative pause for a moment for the purpose of presenting the
reader with an ampler picture of the singular personality of Hil.

Hilda Mannahill was the daughter of the late Samuel Mannahill, who died
when she was ten years old. Three months later she lost her mother. Few
men were more respected and beloved than Sam Mannahill, as he was
familiarly called. He was a self-made man, who had landed in the colony
in the early days, and by dint of hard work and upright dealing had
become very wealthy. At his death he left behind him not only a vast
fortune, which is a comparatively common circumstance, but also an
honoured name, which is less so. After his wife's death the whole of
his wealth passed to his daughter, Hilda, who at the time of our story
was twenty-three