e to meet me," she added with happy
certainty.

"Why, of course she will," assented Eva Pomeroy; "she does not have a
niece out every mail. I dare say she has already bought you a nice
saddle horse. You will be riding every morning, and we can meet and
arrange all sorts of jolly picnics and expeditions. I shall come round
and look you up as soon as I've unpacked and settled."

At this moment a heavy bang announced the letting down of the gangway,
over which a crowd instantly poured and scattered about the decks.

Among the first to appear aft was an immense individual, wearing a
loose tussore suit, a huge pith topee, and a black and yellow
cummerbund. His face, with its great jowl, wide lipless mouth, short
chin, and a pair of goggle eyes, was distinctly of the frog type.

"Which of you is Miss Leigh?" he demanded in a loud voice, as he
approached the group of girls.

Sophy stood forward and before she could evade the outrage, this ugly
fat man had put his hands on her shoulders and given her a smacking
kiss on each cheek.

Even in this exciting moment of imminent departure, the circle paused
for a moment and stared aghast--such an appalling person to claim and
kiss Sophy Leigh! What a frightful shock for the unfortunate
girl--whilst the sensations of several young men on the verge of the
group are better imagined than described!

Herr Krauss, for his part, had received a surprise of a far more
agreeable nature, being entirely unprepared to welcome such a pretty,
fashionable young lady, in the character of his wife's niece. Flora
had invariably spoken of her relatives as "ugly, dowdy little things";
but then, she had only known them at the awkward age and, being herself
remarkably handsome, was super-critical with regard to beauty.

"Now come along and show me your luggage," urged Herr Krauss, releasing
his new acquaintance, "and I will see about it. The hand gepaeck can go
in the car."

With a sense of dazed bewilderment, Sophy took a hasty leave of her
friends and prepared to follow her leader. As she kept close behind
him, whilst he forced his way through the crowd, she noticed his short,
thick neck, and powerful, aggressive shoulders--she also noticed that
he allowed her to carry all her parcels herself.

When at last they reached the car, he stepped in with surprising
agility and said as he seated himself:

"Now come along, put your things, umbrellas, wraps and parcels here.
My man," nodding t