HOBART.
The next morning the boys had the satisfaction of seeing Goody and his
daughter off by the first train. Neither Hal nor Reg was present at
their reunion, and when they saw them together, they realized it was
complete. No two people felt more indebted to their benefactors than
this couple, and words failed them to express it. But their manner,
their faces and their attitude to each other showed what was in their
minds, though the only words that passed were a cordial, "Good-bye; God
bless you," from Goody, and a few heartfelt words of thanks from his
daughter.
The boys held a long consultation as to their future movements, but were
unable to come to a more decisive conclusion than that they should wait
results.
"Wyck," said Hal, "left in a small boat; he may be wrecked; he may be
blown out to sea; he may run for shelter into one of the neighbouring
bays on the East coast. We had better make arrangements with the
telegraph station to inform their officers that if any boat answering to
the description of Wyck's should turn up, we are to be informed of it
immediately. Meanwhile, we will stop here."
Mrs. Eastwood had had a long conversation both with Goody and his
daughter, and this resulted in her holding a high opinion of the boys.
As she moved in the best society of the district she determined to make
their stay as enjoyable as possible. She procured them tickets for the
Mayor's ball, an annual affair of great moment. They acknowledged to the
full her kindly intentions, but explained to her why they avoided any
pleasure or society that might draw them away from the fulfilment of
their compact. A more practical objection was the fact that they had
brought no dress clothes with them, but seeing the good lady's
disappointment, Hal suggested that, as they should like to have a peep
at Hobart society, they might gaze down upon it from the gallery.
This they did do, and Hal after taking the keenest interest in the
animated scene below him, and commenting on all the features of the
ball, was struck with remorse to find Reg sitting by his side with a
pained face. The memories the scene called up were too bitter, and it
was with a sense of relief when Hal got up hurriedly and left.
"I'm sorry, old chap. I'm a brute," he said, when they were outside.
"Don't talk like that," answered Reg. "You are one in ten thousand.
Where could one find another fellow such as you are, gifted with all
that makes life worth the living; ready to throw up everything to help a
chance stranger. It's I who am the brute, old fellow, to expect you to
be tied to the vow you made."
"I don't like you to say that," said Hal. "I shall never regret having
met you, and I thank my stars we were thrown together, and that I am
able to help you."
A silent hand-clasp was Reg's only answer, and as Hal gripped his in
return, both knew that the bond between them was stronger than ever.
In reply to Mrs. Eastwood's enquiries, Hal said he found looking-on
most enjoyable, and agreed there was as nice a lot of good-looking girls
present as one could find.
"Would you care to go to the Mayor's garden party this afternoon?" she
asked.
"What, a garden party to-day, after dancing till three in the morning!
In England they would just be thinking of having breakfast," said
Morris, in surprise.
"Ah, we do things differently in the colonies."
"And a very good thing you do," was Reg's emphatic reply, as the
obliging lady left them together.
"You seemed to find scrutinising those fair damsels an interesting
occupation last night, Hal," he observed to his friend.
"So I did, my boy. You see, Tasmanian women have many points of
difference compared to those in the other colonies. Tasmania is only a
small island and the inhabitants, especially in the South, do not
trouble themselves much about business or anything that conduces to
worry. They pass their days in happy serenity so long as they have
enough to live upon. Being a very healthy country, the birth-rate is
enormous, considering the population. It is no uncommon thing to find
families of fifteen to twenty, all alive and well, girls, of course,
preponderating. Now, as Tasmania has no factories or important
industries, the boys when they grow up emigrate to other colonies to
make a livelihood; the girls remain behind, so the proportion of women
to men is about ten to one."
"No wonder Wyck came on here," said Reg, grimly.
"The Tasmanian girls," continued Hal, not deigning to notice the
interruption, "are noted for their beauty. Nearly all the beautiful
women in Melbourne and Sydney are Tasmanian born."
"Well I cannot say I am much struck with their beauty. They have nice
complexions, but not beauty of form," objected Reg.
"Wait a minute, I am coming to that. I always compare Tasmanian girls to
Tasmanian race-horses, though perhaps the former might not feel
flattered. They have here some of the finest studs in the colonies.
There are sires whose foals have won all the leading events of the
neighbouring colonies, but strange to say none of them can do anything
in their own country. It is only when they are sent to the training
stables in Melbourne and Sydney to be properly brought up that they turn
out well. So it is with the girls; they have to be finished off in
Melbourne and Sydney. Their rosy cheeks and fresh complexion are
retained, but their _gaucheries_ of manner and clumsiness of figure are
pruned away."
"There's a deal in what you say, Hal, but I have a liking for this
little spot. Everything surrounding you is so peaceful; the scenery is
so beautiful that it is an island paradise."
"Yes, it's a nice place to live in, if you have money to spend;
otherwise it is dull."
"Like all pleasure resorts. But there is a delightful air of laziness
about it. Nobody seems in a hurry. It is such a contrast to the bustle
of Melbourne."
"And such a harbour, eh?"
"Yes, it's the finest I've ever seen."
"If you ever get to Sydney you will see one better."
"Here's a note from the telegraph office for you," said Mrs. Eastwood,
hurrying in.
Hal opened it and read:
"Sydney.
"S.S. _Flora_, from Hobart, arrived to-day with Villiers Wyckliffe
and crew rescued from yacht totally wrecked.
"Agents--T. S. W. Coy."
"That's awkward. Sydney is a long way off and it gives him a good start.
What's the paper say, Reg?"
"_Corrinna_ leaves Launceston for Sydney to-morrow at noon. Train
leaving here at 7 a.m., arrives there 11.30."
"I'll wire Goody another copy of this telegram."
"No bad news, I hope, gentlemen," asked Mrs. Eastwood, entering.
"In one sense it is good, in another, unfortunate," said Hal, handing
her the telegram to read.
"It's a pity he was not drowned," she answered, mercilessly, handing the
telegram back. "However, it will cost him a pretty penny, as Macpherson
valued his yacht very highly."
"We shall leave by the first train to-morrow. I am now going to wire to
Mr. Goodchild."
The next morning they were up betimes, and had considerable difficulty
in settling their account with Mrs. Eastwood.
"I am sorry you treat your stay beneath my roof as a matter of
business," she complained, "You have repaid me twenty times over by what
you have done for the Goodchilds. They are my oldest friends, and I look
upon May as a daughter. You have made some good and true friends, who
will be heavily indebted to you until you give them one day an
opportunity of shewing some acknowledgment."
"You are making too much, Mrs. Eastwood, of the service we have been
able to render them. We have our work marked out for us, and until it is
finished there is neither rest nor leisure for us. When it is finished
we shall come and stay with you and your friends, for more hospitable
people we have rarely met," said Reg, as he bade her good-bye.
After an uninteresting train ride they reached Launceston, and found, to
their surprise, Goody waiting for them.
"Are you going on to Sydney, to-day?" he asked.
"Yes. How is Miss Goodchild?"
"Very well, thanks. She and I are going over too. You had better come to
my trap here," and he led the way to a handsome barouche.
"My daughter is down at the steamer making arrangements," he said, when
they were seated, and being driven to the wharf. Goody still had an
anxious look about him, and seemed somewhat disturbed.
"Here we are, boys, jump out, and never mind the luggage. George will
see to that." With astonishing activity the old man ran up the gangway,
followed by the boys, and found May waiting for them. Their greetings
were of the simplest, and May calling the chief steward told him to shew
the gentlemen their cabins, while Goody handed Hal an envelope as they
followed. On opening it he found it contained their tickets to Sydney.
"I say, Reg, they seem determined to run the show here," said he. "We
have done nothing but what we were told to do since we left the train.
What do you think of it?"
"I think we had better appear grateful. They are evidently anxious to do
something in return."
They arranged their berths and returned on deck as the ship was leaving
the wharf. Goody and his daughter seemed to be popular, judging from the
number of friends who came to see them off. Once started, the two were
always together, and it was pathetic to watch the way in which the old
man's eyes rested continually on his daughter. He told Reg they had only
made up their minds to go to Sydney when the wire reached them. His
daughter wished to go, as she had some plan in her head which she
wouldn't let him know of yet, and he continued, sadly, "she will never
be to me what she once was. She was then an innocent child, now she is a
resolute woman. She seems ten years older in her manner and speech. She
is going to a cousin of hers who has the reputation of being a bit
lively, but is an excellent girl at heart."
"I cannot tell what steps I shall take," said May, at the same time, to
Hal. "That depends on my cousin, Hil. I shall follow her advice, for I
have not the slightest doubt that she'll assist me to be revenged."
"Do you mean to follow Wyck up as we are doing?" asked Hal, laughing.
"I can't say what I shall do until I see her."
"Of course you will give us your address, so that we can keep you
informed if we accomplish anything."
"'Grosvenor Hotel' will always find us."
"I should like to know if we can be of any assistance to you before we
arrive, because we have our work to do, and goodness knows where Wyck
will be by the time we reach Sydney, and we may not see you again for
some time."
"If I wanted anything ever so badly, I would not ask you for it, for you
have your own work cut out, and in doing that successfully you will
greatly please both me and my father."
May evidently wishing to take an independent course, Hal did not trouble
her further. He felt the friendship now established between them was
likely to be a lasting one, for Australians never forget a kind action.