and at once, and
shall have all the morning to talk with them. If you and Mrs. Renshaw
will come ashore at four o'clock in the afternoon my wife and I will
meet you at the landing-place. Or if, as I suppose you would prefer to
do, you like to land this morning and have a look at Wellington for
yourselves, this is our address, and if you will call at two o'clock, or
any time later, we shall be at your service. I would suggest, though,
that if you do land early, you should first come round to us, because
Jackson may know some place to suit you; and if not, I am sure that he
will be glad to accompany you and act as your guide."

"I should not like to trouble--" Mr. Renshaw began.

"My dear sir, you do not know the country. Everyone is glad to help a
new chum--that is the name for fresh arrivals--to the utmost of his
power if he knows anything whatever about him, and no one thinks
anything of trouble."

"In that case," Mr. Renshaw said smiling, "we will gladly avail
ourselves of the offer. We should all have been contented if the voyage
had lasted a month longer; but being here, we all, I suppose, want to
get ashore as soon as possible. Therefore we shall probably call at your
address in the course of an hour or so after you get there."

Wilfrid and Marion were indeed in such a hurry to get ashore that a very
few minutes after the Mitfords left the side of the ship, the Renshaws
took a boat and started for the shore. Most of the other passengers also
landed.

"We shall go in alongside the quays in an hour's time," the captain said
as they left; "so you must look for us there when you have done
sight-seeing. We shall begin to get the baggage up at once for the
benefit of those who are in a hurry to get away to the hotels; but I
shall be glad for you all to make the ship your home until to-morrow."

For an hour after landing the Renshaws wandered about Wellington, which
they found to be a pretty and well-built town with wide streets.

"Why, it is quite a large place!" Wilfrid exclaimed in surprise.
"Different, of course, from towns at home, with more open spaces. I
expected it would be much rougher than it is."

"It is the second town of the island, you see," Mr. Renshaw said; "and
is an important place. Well, I am glad we did not cumber ourselves by
bringing everything out from England, for there will be no difficulty
in providing ourselves with everything we require here."

After wandering about for an hour they p