the bay and harbour. On calling we found the cottage occupied by the
shepherd's wife, a pleasant buxom Scots-woman, who immediately proffered
us food, an offer too tempting to be declined, and we presently sat down
to our first Colonial meal of excellent home-made bread, mutton, and
tea, and how delighted we were to taste the fine fresh mutton after many
weeks of salt junk and leathery fowls on board the "Mary Anne"!

We had finished our hearty dinner, and were giving our loquacious
hostess all the news we could of the old country, when the ship hove in
sight, towed by a little tug steamer. We ran for our boat and gave
chase, but only reached her side as the anchor was being dropped in
Lyttelton Harbour. We received from the Captain and Lapworth a sound but
good-humoured rating, but there would be no opportunity of further
"larks" from the "Mary Anne"! The voyage was over, and a most pleasant
one it had been, especially for our small party, and I am sure that no
voyagers to the New World ever had the luck to travel with kinder or
more sympathetic captain and officers, or with abler seamen, than those
in command of the good ship "Mary Anne."

Poor Mrs. Kelson was in sore distress about her husband, whom she
persisted in giving up for lost, and doubtless she looked pretty sharply
after his movements for a while.




CHAPTER III.

LYTTELTON AND CHRISTCHURCH.--CALL ON OUR FRIENDS.--VISIT
MALVERN HILL.