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The Thermal district was our first objective, and as the town of Rotorua was at once the centre and most important part we had arranged to make it our headquarters. The train left at ten in the morning, and Colonel Deane came to see us off, laden with illustrated papers, books of Maori legends and tales, and a beautifully fitted tea-basket.

“Of course there is a dining-car on the train,” he said apologetically, “but though the meals are excellent I think that you would enjoy your tea better if you made it yourselves. And you will find this useful on the lake and when you are driving through the country.”

“It is the very thing we have most regretted forgetting to bring!” exclaimed Mrs Greendays ecstatically. “Oh, Colonel Deane, how do you always think of the right thing? How we shall miss you! Can’t you possibly come with us?” And then she added with a little laughing glance at her husband, “Tom does not look after me nearly so well as you do!”

“Does not spoil you so much, you mean!” amended Captain Greendays. “But I wish you would come, old chap, if only to look after these responsibilities of mine while I go fishing,—by gad, it would make me your slave for life!” Rh