"Indeed, we are acting with all the foresight we can bring to bear," Bayle said, in answer to another remonstrance made in the hurry and bustle of preparation. "Yes," she replied; "but you are doing too much. You make me tremble for the consequence." Bayle smiled, and bade her take comfort. He was present with her almost daily, to report little matters that he had arranged for her as to money and baggage. Since he had accompanied her and Julia back to town he had been indefatigable, working with the most cheery good-humour, and smiling as he reported the success of the furniture sale; how capitally he had managed about the little investments of the wreck of Mrs Hallam's money; and how he had obtained letters of credit for her at the Colonial Bank. Julia watched Bayle's countenance day by day with a curious, wistful look, that would at times be pitiful, at other times full of resentment; and one day she turned to the doctor--the old gentleman and Mrs Luttrell having insisted upon coming to town, and following their child to Portsmouth, where they were to embark. "I believe, grandpa," she said half angrily, "that Mr Bayle is tired of us, and that he is glad to get us off his hands." "Nothing would ever tire Mr Bayle, my dear," said Mrs Luttrell reprovingly. Julia turned to her quickly and put her arms round the old lady's neck, the tears in her eyes brimming over. "No; it was very unkind and ungenerous of me," she said. "He has always been so good." In the midst of what was almost a wild excitement of preparation, mingled with fits of despondency, Millicent Hallam noticed this too, and found time to feel hurt. "He is such an old friend," she said to herself. "He has been like a brother; and it seems hard that he should appear to be less moved at our approaching farewell than Mr Thickens and his wife." For, instigated by the latter, Thickens had come up and followed them to Portsmouth. "It would have about killed her, Mrs Hallam," he said in confidence, as he sat chatting with her aside in the hotel room on the eve of their sailing. "But now a bit of business. I've been trying ever since I came to get a few words with you alone, only Sir Gordon and Mr Bayle were always in the way." "Business, Mr Thickens?" "Yes, look here! I'm an actuary, you see, and money adviser, and that sort of thing. Now you are going out there on a long voyage, and you ought to be prepared for any little emergencies that may occur in a land that I find is not so barbarous as I thought, for I see they have a regular banking establishment there, and business regularly carried on in paper and bullion." Mrs Hallam looked at him wonderingly. "Ah, I see you don't understand me, so to be short," he continued, "fact is I talked it over with, madam, and we settled it between us." "Settled what?" said Mrs Hallam, wonderingly.