“But I can’t believe it yet, dad,” said Gretta later on, when, seated beside the invalid in the drawing-room, she awaited with sparkling eyes the coming of the travellers. “What _will_ they say? The girls at school _can’t_ think I deserved it! Hark!” as the peal of the front-door bell sounded through the house. “I believe they’ve come.”
But the visitor proved to be Mr. Courtney, in a state of excitement so great about something or other that he scarcely seemed to take in Gretta’s wonderful piece of information. “I’ve news,” he announced, entering the room as he spoke, and addressing the doctor; “and news that you will be uncommonly glad to hear.”
“News! More news!” Gretta held her breath. Could it be from Auntie Tib?
“A cable came to me half an hour ago.” Mr. Courtney spoke eagerly. “They landed last week, and----”
“Their affairs are settled, and _well_ settled, apparently. The bad news was a scare. Particulars, of course, I don’t know yet, but the main point is that they will suffer no financial difficulty whatever.”
“Oh!” breathed Gretta; this seemed almost too good to be true. “Does it mean----”
“It means a great deal, Gretta,” said the visitor, turning to her kindly. “Freedom from anxiety for Mrs. Fleming, and--a great deal more besides. Also, it means----”
“Yes?” said the girl wonderingly, surprised at his tone.
“The cable is in code, of course,” Mr. Courtney spoke to the doctor, “but one thing Mrs. Fleming has made very clear, in spite of that. She wishes Gretta, without fail, to return next term to the Cliff School.”
“Oh, dad!” Gretta was on her knees beside her father’s chair. “Oh, _dad_!”
“Your aunt is one of the kindest of women, Gretta,” said her father huskily.
“But, dad, I won’t go. I mean, I couldn’t leave you for anything with Ann again. I’d rather fifty times over stay and look after you till you’re properly well. I’ll write to auntie----”
“Listen here for a minute, Gretta,” said her father; the girl raised her eyes to his at the tone of his voice.
“This message from your aunt is just the best thing that could have happened for all of us,” continued the doctor; “and, if it will make your mind easier, I’ll tell you something I never expected to be able to tell you at all.” He paused for a minute before he continued. “Dr. Moore thinks that a voyage is advisable for my health, and Mr. Courtney offered to get me a berth as ship-doctor on the boat by which he sails to Australia. I should have had no hesitation in accepting his offer but for the fact that I had nowhere to send _you_, my dear, during my absence. Now it seems that the way is cleared, for the _Tarrawonga_ leaves in five weeks’ time, so I shall just have time to see the three of you back to school before I start. There are scores of arrangements to be made, of course, but to put your mind at rest at once, I think it wise to mention the plan in outline.” The doctor sat up energetically in his chair as he spoke, and sniffed the air as though he were already drinking in the ocean breezes.