ny
previous acquaintance with such matters."

"The idea certainly pleases me," Mr. Renshaw said; "but, of course, I
shall want time to think over your startling proposal, Helen."

"Of course, my dear. In the meantime we will go on packing up and
preparing to move at once from here, as you say that there must be a
sale of everything; then you can think the matter over, and if you
decide upon any better scheme than ours we can carry that out. If not,
we shall be ready to put ours into execution."

The next month was a busy one. There was great sympathy evinced by all
the Renshaw's neighbours and acquaintances when it was heard that their
whole fortune was swept away by the failure of the bank. There were
farewell visits to be paid, not only to these, but to their poorer
neighbours. In answer to inquiries as to their plans, Mr. Renshaw always
replied that at present nothing whatever was settled. Mrs. Renshaw
hinted that, although their plans were not definitely fixed, she thought
it probable that they would go abroad; while Wilfrid and Marion both
informed their friends confidently that they were going to New Zealand.

The work of packing went on. A few articles of furniture that were
special favourites with them all were packed up and sent to be
warehoused in London, in order that they might some day be forwarded to
them when they had made themselves a home; but nothing else was taken
beyond their clothes, a good selection of books for their general
reading, a large box of those which Mr. Renshaw declared absolutely
indispensable to himself, and a few nick-nacks specially prized.
Everything else was handed over for sale for the benefit of the
creditors of the bank. During these weeks Mr. Renshaw continued to speak
as if he regarded the New Zealand project as wholly impracticable, and
on each occasion when he did so his wife replied cheerfully: "Well, my
dear, we are in no way wedded to it, and are quite ready to give it up
and adopt any plan you may decide upon. The matter is entirely in your
hands."

But Mr. Renshaw could hit upon no other scheme; and, indeed, his wife's
suggestion as to a book on the natives of New Zealand had much taken his
fancy. Certainly he, a trained antiquarian, should be able to produce a
book upon such a subject that would be of vastly greater value than
those written by settlers and others having no training whatever that
would qualify them for such work. It was probable that he should be