res and things. Just the
sort of folks you write about. She'd be just the one for you."

I shook my head. "My lords and ladies are only paper dolls, Hephzy," I
said, ruefully. "I should be as lost as you among the flesh and blood
variety. No, the 'Princess Eulalie' must be ours. She runs to Amsterdam,
though. Odd that Jim should send me to Holland."

Hephzy nodded and then offered a solution.

"I don't doubt he did it on purpose," she declared. "He knew neither you
nor I was anxious to go to England. He knows we don't think much of the
English, after our experience with that Morley brute."

"No, he doesn't know any such thing. I've never told him a word about
Morley. And he doesn't know you're going, Hephzy. I've kept that as
a--as a surprise for him."

"Well, never mind. I'd rather go to Amsterdam than England. It's nearer
to France."

I was surprised. "Nearer to France?" I repeated. "What difference does
that make? We don't know anyone in France."

Hephzibah was plainly shocked. "Why, Hosy!" she protested. "Have you
forgotten Little Frank? He is in France somewhere, or he was at last
accounts."

"Good Lord!" I groaned. Then I got up and went out. I had forgotten
"Little Frank" and hoped that she had. If she was to flit about Europe
seeing "Little Frank" on every corner I foresaw trouble. "Little Frank"
was likely to be the bane of my existence.

We left Bayport on Monday morning. The house was cleaned and swept
and scoured and moth-proofed from top to bottom. Every door was
double-locked and every window nailed. Burglars are unknown in Bayport,
but that didn't make any difference. "You can't be too careful," said
Hephzy. I was of the opinion that you could.

The cat had been "farmed out" with Susanna's people and Susanna herself
was to feed the hens twice a day, lock them in each night and let them
out each morning. Their keeper had a carefully prepared schedule as to
quantity and quality of food; Hephzy had prepared and furnished it.

"And don't you give 'em any fish," ordered Hephzy. "I ate a chicken once
that had been fed on fish, and--my soul!"

There was quite an assemblage at the station to see us off. Captain
Whittaker and his wife were not there, of course; they were near
California by this time. But Mr. Partridge, the minister, was there and
so was his wife; and Asaph Tidditt and Mr. and Mrs. Bailey Bangs and
Captain Josiah Dimick and HIS wife, and several others. Oh, yes! and
Angeline Phinney.