e indexed the kindly nature that
could not refuse the pleadings of a loved one, even when they were for
the undertaking of so wild an expedition as the present.

"Is it not exquisite, aunty?" finally exclaimed the younger of the two,
a girl of eighteen, whose blue eyes and fair hair were strikingly
contrasted with the warm tintings of a face on which sun and wind had
plied their magic arts for many days.

"Yes, dear, it is indeed exquisite, and so wonderfully peaceful,"
replied Madam Rothsay.

"That is the one thing I object to," laughed the girl. "It is all so
stupidly peaceful that I am getting tired of it, and long for a bit of
excitement."

"But my dear Edith, if Sir Jeffry had not assured me that every portion
of this journey might be made through a country that was perfectly
peaceful, I should have never consented to undertake it. Besides, I
thought you were quite tired of the excitements and gayety of New York.
You certainly said so."

"Yes, so I was. That is, I was so tired of the stupid men one had so
constantly to meet that I longed to get away to some place where they
would not dare follow."

"I agree with you, my dear, that most of them were very stupid. There
was Ensign Christie, for instance, who--"

"Now, aunty! you know I didn't mean him, or the men like him, who had
done splendid things, and were just aching for a chance to do more.
Besides, I am sure that if Mr. Christie had been possessed of the
slightest desire to follow us, we could not have found any place in all
the world where he would not dare venture. I meant such creatures as
that absurd little paymaster, who talked about a stupid tub he had
invented, until I couldn't help asking him why he didn't follow the
example of the three wise men of Gotham and sail away in it."

"What did he answer?"

"Said he believed his old tub was quite seaworthy, and that he should
be perfectly willing to undertake a voyage in it, provided it would
lead him to me. Oh, he was so silly, and so pompous, and so conceited,
and so spick and span! He is the most immaculate creature you ever
saw, and was great fun for a while. Then he got to be such a desperate
bore that I simply couldn't endure him any longer; and so, here we are."

"But I thought your sole reason for wanting to come out here was to see
your father and Donald, and give them a joyful surprise."

"Of course, you dear goosey, that was the most chiefest of my reasons,
as Willy Shakespea