"It would make me miserable to think that you weren't properly looked after and taken care of, Elisabeth." "Well, I shall be.

And if I'm not, I shall still have you to fall back upon." "But you won't have me to fall back upon; that is just the point.

If you would, I shouldn't worry about you so much; but it cuts me to the heart to leave you among strangers.

Still, the Tremaines will be here, and I shall ask them to look after you; and I daresay they will do so all right, though not as efficiently as I should." Elisabeth grew rather pale; that there would ever come a day when Christopher would not be there to fall back upon was a contingency which until now had never occurred to her.

"Whatever are you talking about, Chris?
Why sha'n't you be here when I go up to the Slade ?" "Because I am going to Australia." "To Australia?
What on earth for ?" It seemed to Elisabeth as if the earth beneath her feet had suddenly decided to reverse its customary revolution, and to transpose its poles.
"To see if I can find George Farringdon's son, of course." "I thought he had been advertised for in both English and Australian papers, and had failed to answer the advertisements." "So he has." "Then why bother any more about him ?" suggested Elisabeth.
"Because I must.