She found herself suddenly hugged with a vehemence that left her breathless.
"Oh, isn't he just the very best person ever!" gasped Dick. "Mother—when?"
"To-morrow," said his mother calmly. "And even so, we'll have to go overland to Adelaide. The boat that will get us to Western Australia in time to meet the Ohio leaves Melbourne to-day. I knew I couldn't catch it in Melbourne; but it doesn't matter."
Dick sat down on the floor, looking at her with a kind of solemn bewilderment.
"Do you mean to tell me," he asked, "that to-morrow you and I go to Adelaide and catch a steamer to meet father at Fremantle?"
"To-morrow as ever is," said his mother as solemnly.
"And that in less than a week we'll see father?"
She nodded. Her sweet mouth quivered suddenly and her eyes dimmed. Dick, suddenly flinging his arms round her, felt her trembling.
"Oh, Dickie, it's been so long," she whispered brokenly. "And I've been so lonely." She put her face against his smooth, sunburnt cheek, and he patted her very hard. Presently she sat up and smiled at him again.