'
Colonel Mohun had nearly said, 'So much the better,' but turned it
into, 'I think you will change your opinion.'
Brothers and sisters, and cousins, whatever they may be to the external
world, always remain relatively to each other pretty much as they knew
one another when a single home held them all. The familiar Christian
names seemed to revive the old ways, and it was amusing to see the
somewhat grave and silent colonel treated by his elder brother as the
dashing, heedless boy, needing to be looked after, while his sister
Jane remained the ready helper and counsellor, and Lady Merrifield was
still in his eyes the unpractical, fanciful Lily with an unfortunately
suggestive rhyme to her name.
Perhaps it maintained him in this opinion, that when he had answered
all questions about Captain and Mrs. Harry May, and had dilated on
their pretty house in the suburbs of Auckland, his sisters expected him
to tell of the work of the Church among the Maoris and Fijians. He
laughed at them for thinking colonists troubled their heads about
natives.
'I know Phyllis does. One of Harry May's brothers went out as a
missionary.'
'Disenchanted and came home again when his wife came into a fortune.'
'Not a bit of it,' said Aunt Jane. 'I know him and all about him. He
stayed till his health broke, and now he is one of the most useful men
in the country. He is coming to speak for the S.P.G. at Rockquay,
Lily; and you must come and meet him and his charming wife.
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