"Oh, _yes_, my darling," she wrote hurriedly, by return of post, "pray _do_ come and spend all the summer with us. Mamma says that as it is so _very_, _very_ soon we must be careful to keep it _quite_ quiet, but John wishes me particularly to tell you that, in _his_ opinion, you are _quite right_. "We both like Mr. Dalrymple _very much_, and we think he has behaved _so very well_. And John says he is not at all a spendthrift _now_, whatever he may have been _once_, and he thinks _really_ that he will take care of your money and not squander it away (only he says you must let him arrange things for you on your marriage--which _must_ take place at Adelonga--so as to be _quite_ on the safe side); for they have had both floods and droughts _very_ badly at their place in Queensland, and yet they have made it pay, which John says he _never_ expected. Bruce thinks so much of the property and the way it has been managed, that I am sure he will want to go in with Mr. Gordon if Mr. Dalrymple will let us buy him out (perhaps he _won't_ now the meat-freezing is going to do such great things.) But these are details to talk of presently. We must get you here first. "If you can come on Tuesday, _do_. John will meet you at the train. I have written to Mr. Dalrymple to come the _next_ day, for you must not be excited and upset until you have had time for a _good rest_ after your journey. I am having the blue south room got ready for you--the one you _used_ to like--and the large dressing-room next to it for dear little Alfy. _I_ don't think you ought to send away your maid. Won't it _look_ odd after being used to one for so long? I have _plenty_ of room for her as well as for the nurse, &c., &c." On the Tuesday, Rachel, with Alfy and his nurse, arrived, having dismissed some of her servants and put the rest on board wages, having packed up her most precious china and art treasures, and swathed her splendid upholstery in sheets of brown holland, prepared to spend any length of time at Adelonga that circumstances would admit of.