sit the White
Mountains, and--I don't know where else I would like to go, but--"

"That will do pretty well for a beginning, I think," he said, laughing,
"and by the time we are through with all those, if you are not ready to
return home, you may be able to think of some more. Now for the time of
starting. This is Wednesday--I think we will leave next Tuesday morning."

"I am glad it is so soon," Elsie said, with a look of great satisfaction,
"for I am in such a hurry to see Miss Rose. Must I go on with lessons
this week, papa?"

"With your music and drawing; but that will be all, except that we will
read history together for an hour every day. I know a little regular
employment will make the time pass much more quickly and pleasantly to
you."

Elsie could now talk of very little but her expected journey, and thought
that time moved much more slowly than usual; yet when Monday evening came
and she and her father walked over the grounds, taking leave of all her
favorite haunts, everything was looking so lovely that she half regretted
the necessity of leaving her beautiful home even for a few months.

They started very early in the morning, before the sun was up, travelling
to the city in their own carriage, and then taking the cars.

They visited Baltimore and Washington, staying just long enough in each
place to see all that was worth seeing; then went on to Philadelphia,
where they expected to remain several weeks, as it was there Miss Rose
resided. Mr. Allison was a prosperous merchant, with a fine establishment
in the city, and a very elegant country-seat a few miles out of it.

On reaching the city Elsie was in such haste to see her friend, that she
entreated her father to go directly to Mr. Allison's, saying she was
certain that Miss Rose would wish them to do so.

But Mr. Dinsmore would not consent. "It would never do," he said, "to
rush in upon our friends in that way, without giving them any warning;
we might put them to great inconvenience."

So John was sent for a carriage, and they drove to one of the first
hotels in the city, where Mr. Dinsmore at once engaged rooms for himself,
daughter, and servants.

"You are looking tired, my child," he said, as he led Elsie to her room
and seated her upon a sofa; "and you are warm and dusty. But mammy must
give you a bath, and put on your loose wrapper, and I will have your
supper brought up here, and then you must go early to bed, and I hope
you will feel qu