Gathered In by Catherine Helen Spence — Read

When Mrs. Ellerton, following Miss Gray's suggestion, made the recommendation to Mr. James Oswald that he should travel and see the world along with his cousin, that young gentleman appeared to see no savour in it. Although such a colonial tour under any circumstances had been the desire of his heart before he met with Sybil, he could not think of leaving her. But gradually things worked round to make him consent to go. In the first place, Mr. Ellerton said he wanted much to take such a round. He was tired of Castlehurst, and thought there was much better opening for a man of his talents in any of the colonial capitals, than in a gone-down, dead-alive place like the diggings-township. In the second place, Mr. Oswald, whose mind seemed to be much relieved now that his will was signed, sealed, and delivered, thought that he could not spare Kenneth, for he wanted him to go and take possession and set things going in the new station in the Riverina district. Although certainly, Ellerton was not the best of companions, he would at least see that no one took advantage of the rich squatter's son but himself, and as it might detach Jim from Mrs. Ellerton, Mr. Oswald was willing to allow him both time and money for an extended tour.

Mr. Ellerton proposed to give up Castlehurst House which he had never liked much, and to store the furniture, and his wife might pay a visit to her friends at Wilta during his absence. He liked the idea of having no cares whatever, and travelling "en garcon."