ss
the train! If she should have to pass the night in the streets in her
turban! She was the first to lead the way, and, panting, the family
followed her, just in time to take the train as it was leaving the
station.

The excitement was not yet over. They found in the train many of their
friends and neighbors, returning also from the Carnival; so they had
many questions put to them which they were unable to answer. Still
Mrs. Peterkin's turban was much admired, and indeed the whole
appearance of the family; so that they felt themselves much repaid for
their exertions.

But more adventures awaited them. They left the train with their
friends; but as Mrs. Peterkin and Elizabeth Eliza were very tired,
they walked very slowly, and Solomon John and the little boys were
sent on with the pass-key to open the door. They soon returned with
the startling intelligence that it was not the right key, and they
could not get in. It was Mr. Peterkin's office-key; he had taken it by
mistake, or he might have dropped the house-key in the cloak-room of
the Carnival.

"Must we go back?" sighed Mrs. Peterkin, in an exhausted voice. More
than ever did Elizabeth Eliza regret that Agamemnon's invention in
keys had failed to secure a patent!

It was impossible to get into the house, for Amanda had been allowed
to go and spend the night with a friend, so there was no use in
ringing, though the little boys had tried it.

"We can return to the station," said Mr. Peterkin; "the rooms will be
warm, on account of the midnight train. We can, at least, think what
we shall do next."

At the station was one of their neighbors, proposing to take the New
York midnight train, for it was now after eleven, and the train went
through at half-past.

"I saw lights at the locksmith's over the way, as I passed," he said;
"why do not you send over to the young man there? He can get your door
open for you. I never would spend the night here."

Solomon John went over to "the young man," who agreed to go up to the
house as soon as he had closed the shop, fit a key, and open the door,
and come back to them on his way home. Solomon John came back to the
station, for it was now cold and windy in the deserted streets. The
family made themselves as comfortable as possible by the stove,
sending Solomon John out occasionally to look for the young man. But
somehow Solomon John missed him; the lights were out in the
locksmith's shop, so he followed along to the hou