Canada than in England."

The Hilton household was naturally deep in preparations for the
forthcoming upheaval. Clothes, books, and a few special treasures were
to go with them, but they were leaving the furniture to be sold, and
would re-furnish when they found a house in Belleville. The children,
who now shared the open secret, ran about in much excitement, anxious to
start at once on what seemed to them a second summer holiday.

"We shall have an awful time looking after these three scaramouches on
board ship," groaned Lesbia, picking Steve out of the packing-case where
he had climbed, and rescuing various fragile articles from Julie's and
Bunty's prying little fingers.

The more she thought of the prospect the more her heart sank. She did
not wish to leave Kingfield at all, but if emigration were a necessity,
she would have preferred some beautiful place such as California, or the
hot springs district of New Zealand, or certain parts of Australia where
the climate was adorable and oranges and peaches hung in your garden.

There were of course many leave-takings before their departure. Lesbia
had to go one afternoon to say good-bye to the Pattersons. They were
distant cousins, and her only relations in Kingfield. They lived at the
opposite side of the city, and she did not see them very often. They had
not been consulted about Lesbia's future, and were ready to find fault
with her stepbrother's arrangement for her.

"Well, Lesbia! This will be a great change for you," began Mrs.
Patterson. "If I'd been asked I should have said 'leave you to finish
off at the High School'. It seems a pity to stop your education just
when you're getting on nicely."

"I wish they would leave me behind," said Lesbia. "I don't want to go at
all."

"We might easily have taken you in," continued Mrs. Patterson. "All
three of the boys are away at present. It would have been far better for
you. But our advice has never been asked. Paul Hilton goes his own way.
Yet really you're more our relation than his. I hope you'll be happy out
in Canada. You must write to us sometimes and tell us how you're getting
on. Your cousin, Mrs. Baynes, will be very surprised to hear the news.
Have you written to tell her? Or to your aunt Mrs. Newton? They really
ought to know. It hardly seems right you should go away in this sudden
fashion and leave all your kith and kin behind you. You must write
to-morrow, Lesbia, and tell them."

Lesbia assented apa