“Don’t hurry yourself,” said Frank. “Walk quick if you like, but don’t be flurried. I’ll overtake the cart for you, I’ll be bound; and you had better look like yourself as you get in.” The carrier was just cracking his whip to proceed after a halt, when the brother and sister made their appearance at the end of the lane. Ellen cast one glance back upon the familiar spire and hedgerows and cottage roofs, and summoned up one bright smile and a few more words for Frank. “’Tis not as if you were to stay behind, Frank.” “To be sure not! Leave every thing to me dear, and be steady and easy, that’s all; and don’t talk of Bob and Jerry, for your own sake.—All right, carrier?—Well then, good bye!” And high on the hedge stood Frank, gazing long after he had ceased to distinguish the bright face looking out at the back of the cart. Not till the vehicle had disappeared behind the hill did he descend to the stubble-field below, and pick up straws, and cut hazel switches like a truant boy, muttering to himself “In three days we shall be off.” The second departure was more public and more painful. The two old folks would come out at the last moment; and their distress moved the gazers to an outcry against the cruelty of deserting them, and the unnatural behaviour of leaving one’s country and kindred. A giddy young couple thanked the Castles for vacating their cottage just when others were wanting one; and of the rest, some who were disappointed of going looked on in silent envy, and others were loud in their reports of the dangers of the sea, and the horrors of savage life. Frank had seated his charge in the waggon and walked on, intending to be overtaken out of hearing of these busy tongues. He looked back from the first corner, and seeing that there was great confusion, returned. Castle was motioning away the parish officers and Mr. Jackson, and doggedly refusing to go after all. His wife was laughing, and little Susan crying. “You must please yourself, father,” said he firmly. “If you put yourself out of the way of being helped by your own children, God help you! I must go, and that this moment.” “Come along!” cried the wife. “We may as well get out of reach of these plaguy officers, with their talk of our debt to them. Let’s be off, and then they may get their money as they can. We shall never drive our carriage here, as they say my boys may do at Botany Bay. Come along!” Frank would allow of no force, His father should choose for himself. So said Mr. Jackson.