back now!" said Betty. "I'm sure we've been miles
over these grounds."

So they walked along the paths where Henry VIII made love to Anne
Boleyn and Catharine Howard, where Queen Elizabeth took her morning
walks, and where Pope, Swift, Addison, and Walpole wandered in more
recent days.

"I think I haven't mentioned Cromwell to you in connection with
Hampton Court, but he must not be forgotten, for he came here after he
was made Protector, and lived with as much pomp and splendor as any
king. Every time I visit this palace I marvel at the amount of history
with which it is connected, and at the number of scenes for which it
was the setting!"

As she spoke, Mrs. Pitt was leading the way to the railroad-station. A
London train came along very soon, fortunately, but they ran up and
down in vain looking for seats in their customary third-class
compartment. These were all crowded, the following day being a "bank
holiday," so when the guard at last came to their rescue, he put them
in a first-class compartment. This greatly interested John and Betty,
as they had not seen one before.

[Illustration: "EVERY TIME I VISIT THE PALACE I MARVEL AT THE AMOUNT
OF HISTORY WITH WHICH IT IS CONNECTED."--_Page 136._]

"It isn't so very different, after all," commented Betty. "The
cushions are a little nicer, and there's carpet on the floor, but
that's the only change from an ordinary third-class carriage."

"I know it," said Philip. "And most English people never think of
traveling first-class except on a long journey; for it really is very
little better, and the price is so ruinously dear!"

CHAPTER ELEVEN

STRATFORD-ON-AVON

"We're going to stay in a really, truly old inn at last, aren't we!"
Betty gave a sigh of satisfaction and walked rapidly along by Mrs.
Pitt's side, as that lady led the way from the station at Stratford to
the famous Red Horse Hotel.

"Stratford is exactly like any other little English town," John was
commenting to Philip. "There are plenty of new houses made of shiny,
red bricks, and all put close together in blocks, with their tiny
lawns and gardens in front. I suppose they build that way even in the
small towns, because you haven't as much room to spread out as we have
in America. Too bad, though, I say! Makes a little town look just like
a big city, only smaller. I thought Stratford would be different!" His
tones betrayed not a little disappointment.

As they came into the central and olde