object had been
to practise travelling, and surely they had been travelling all day.
Elizabeth Eliza had seen the sea, or thought she had. She was not
sure--she had been so busy explaining to the cousins and showing the
photographs. Agamemnon was sorry she had not walked with them to the
beach, and tried getting in and out of the boat. Elizabeth Eliza
regretted this. Of course it was not the same as getting into a boat on
the sea, where it would be wobbling more, but the step must have been
higher from the sand. Solomon John said there was some difficulty. He
had jumped in, but was obliged to take hold of the side in getting out.

The little boys were much encouraged by their wade into the tide. They
had been a little frightened at first when the splash came, but the
tide had been low. On the whole, Mr. Peterkin continued, things had gone
well. Even the bringing back of the cats might be considered a good
omen. Cats were worshipped in Egypt, and they ought not to have tried
to part with them. He was glad they had brought the cats. They gave the
little boys an interest in feeding them while they were waiting at the
Kingston station.

Their adventures were not quite over, as the station was crowded when
they reached Boston. A military company had arrived from the South and
was received by a procession. A number of distinguished guests also were
expected, and the Peterkins found it difficult to procure a carriage.
They had determined to take a carriage, so that they might be sure to
reach their own evening train in season.

At last Mr. Peterkin discovered one that was empty, standing at the end
of a long line. There would be room for Mrs. Peterkin, Elizabeth Eliza,
himself, and the little boys, and Agamemnon and Solomon John agreed to
walk behind in order to keep the carriage in sight. But they were much
disturbed when they found they were going at so slow a pace. Mr. Peterkin
called to the coachman in vain. He soon found that they had fallen into
the line of the procession, and the coachman was driving slowly on
behind the other carriages. In vain Mr. Peterkin tried to attract the
driver's attention. He put his head out of one window after another, but
only to receive the cheers of the populace ranged along the sidewalk.
He opened the window behind the coachman and pulled his coat. But the
cheering was so loud that he could not make himself heard. He tried to
motion to the coachman to turn down one of the side streets,