‘Poor Manton!’ said Robert Foster. ‘I am sorry he was drowned, for a better seaman could not be found. I should like to meet Wal Jessop, and we must try and have little Eva over here, for we cannot spare you again, Edgar, now we have got you at home.’
‘It would be splendid if Wal could be induced to bring Eva and his wife home,’ said Edgar. ‘I must write and ask him. You have to meet Ben Brody, who came over with us, and I am sure you will be amused at him. He is a character, and a rough-and-ready customer, but a genuine good fellow.’
When Edgar spoke of his engagement to Muriel Wylde, his father was pleased he had found a girl after his own heart, for his son’s happiness always held a foremost place with him.
‘And what about the Australian eleven?’ said Robert Foster. ‘Are they a strong team? It is rather too bad of you to play against the old country. It places me in an awkward position. Of course, I am patriotic enough to wish to see England victorious, and yet I shall be highly delighted to see you pile up a big score.’
‘I shall do my best,’ said Edgar; ‘and every member of the team will try hard to win the matches. I think we stand an excellent chance, and you will have to put your best eleven in the field to beat us in the test matches.’
‘Your men generally play well, and with constant practice they know each other’s play thoroughly, but we have some splendid cricketers now, and they will take a lot of beating,’ said his father.
‘All the more credit to us, then, if we win,’ said Edgar.
The members of an Australian eleven have plenty of hard work to go through when in England, and Edgar could not remain idle at home. He went to Mitcham to practise on the famous common, and his father accompanied him to see how the men shaped. To two or three of the older members of the team, who had been in England before, Robert Foster was well known, and his appearance with Edgar was hailed with delight.
William Murch, the captain of the Australians, shook hands heartily with Robert Foster, and said with a smile:
‘We have had you against us on many occasions, but I think we can cry quits now we have your son on our side.’