“Janet!” he cried, with a flash of anger; but it seemed ludicrous, after all, to attach any importance to what such a child said. He laughed a confused and disconcerted laugh. “That doesn’t come well from my daughter! And what do you know about such things? You are a little goose, and that is all about it. Besides, what does it matter? We are all going to Queensland--he, too. There will not be many grand houses, or men in livery, you baby! to be found there.” “Oh!” cried Janet, growing pale with disappointment and dismay; “but you don’t think he will have to go there _now_?” “Why not _now_? There is more reason than ever now, it appears to me.” “Oh!” cried Janet again--that stock English monosyllable expressing a whole gamut of dissatisfaction and surprise. “I thought that would only be because he thought his people would object, and didn’t know what we--I--would say. He would rather go than be separated--rather than lose--us; it is easy to understand. But when he’s been and told, and when his mother has come here, and when it’s all in the way of being settled--Oh!” cried Janet again, with natural vehemence, “what in all the world should he go for now? Would any one go that could help it? and him that has everything he can set his face to, and sure to come into a fortune, and all made easy for him. What in all the world should he go for _now_?” Spears stood and looked at her with a confusion that was almost stupidity. He was indeed stupefied by this extraordinary speech. Was it really what it seemed to be, a revelation of an unknown character, a new creation altogether--or was it merely the silly babble of a child? “My girl,” he said, with a tone of severity, yet still keeping the half of his smile, so confused and uncertain was he, not knowing what to think; “what is this you are saying? It is not like a child of mine. What if I were to say--as I have a good right--he _shall_ come to Queensland or he shall not have you?”