Their adventures at Ismailia formed the subject of conversation for several days between Edgar and Muriel Wylde. With her mother’s consent, Muriel accepted Edgar’s offer of marriage, and when the engagement became known on board they were regarded with romantic interest by the passengers. The remainder of the voyage proved uneventful. Muriel Wylde and her mother left the steamer at Naples, and proceeded overland to London, but Edgar remained on board with the team.  
On arriving at Tilbury, the eleven received a hearty¹ welcome from a large number of influential² cricketers and lovers of the game. To Edgar, all this was as nothing to the joy he felt at meeting his father and Doris again.
 
Elm Lodge³ looked much the same as when he went away, and the old home was so peaceful that Edgar began to wonder how he had ever made up his mind to leave it. He had much to relate to his father and sister, and, needless to say, Will Brown entertained Doris in a manner agreeable to that young lady.
 
[224]
 
The wreck⁴ of the Distant Shore was described again, and Robert Foster noticed with pride how modestly Edgar spoke⁵ of the part he took in saving Eva.
 
‘Poor Manton!’ said Robert Foster. ‘I am sorry he was drowned, for a better seaman⁶ 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 patriotic⁷ enough to wish to see England victorious⁸, 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[225] 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 thoroughly⁹, 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 heartily¹⁰ 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.’
 
‘How does Edgar shape?’ asked Robert Foster.
 
‘I consider him one of our best bats, and expect great things of him. He has a happy knack¹¹ of making a big score when it is most wanted. He is a smart fielder and a good change bowler¹². In fact, I cannot pay him a higher compliment than to say he is as good a man as his father,’ said Murch.
 
[226]
 
Edgar was now at the nets, and making the balls fly about merrily.
 
‘He does not seem very stiff after the voyage,’ said Robert Foster. ‘His wrist play is good, but his style could be improved a bit. I must give him a wrinkle or two.’
 
‘That will be going over to the enemy’s camp,’ said Murch, with a laugh; ‘but we shall be glad of such a valuable coach.’
 
‘By Jove! so it will,’ said Robert Foster. ‘But I cannot resist the temptation, all the same. We cricketers, I am glad to say, are always ready to help each other, and I have had many a good wrinkle given me by Australians.’
 
‘Ah! it is a game that stands ahead of all other games,’ said Murch enthusiastically. ‘It is a genuine sport, and a manly¹³ sport. It not only gives pleasure to the players, but to thousands of people in all parts of the world. Lovers of cricket, no matter where you go, are always willing to help each other.’
 
‘You are right,’ said Robert Foster. ‘Cricket will never take a back seat to any other game.’
 
‘Look out!’ said Murch, as he dodged¹⁴ a ball hit by Edgar. ‘Your son is evidently bent¹⁵ upon letting us know he is at the nets.’
 
When he had finished his turn with the bat Edgar joined his father and Murch.
 
‘How do you think I shape?’ said Edgar.
 
‘Very well,’ replied his father, ‘but your style is[227] rather faulty. I think I can give you a hint as to what I mean when we reach home.’
 
‘Now then, Will, it’s your turn,’ said Edgar, and Will Murch went to the nets with his bat under his arm.
 
‘You have seen him play before?’ said Edgar.
 
‘Many times,’ said his father. ‘He is a splendid bat, and I should think he will make a good captain. Is he popular with the team?’
 
‘Very,’ said Edgar. ‘I believe every one of us thinks he is the best man that could have been selected.’
 
‘That is the proper feeling to start with,’ said Robert Foster. ‘If you have no confidence in your captain, defeat is almost certain.’
 
When Robert Foster had seen the Australians at practice on several occasions, he came to the conclusion it was the strongest team that had yet come to England.
 
‘The test ............