r in England?"

"Oh, yes," laughed Florrie. "And I've been in pretty nearly every
other country upon earth--every one that a ship could get to, at
least."

"Why, Florrie Hamilton! Are you in earnest?"

"Indeed, yes. Perhaps you don't know that our 'now-mother,' as Jack
says sometimes, is Father's second wife. My own mother died when I was
a baby, and my aunt, who had no children of her own, took me to bring
up. Her husband was a sea-captain, and she always went on his
sea-voyages with him. So I went too. I almost grew up on shipboard. We
had delightful times. I never went to school. Auntie had been a
teacher before her marriage, and she taught me. Two years ago, when I
was fourteen, Father married again, and then he wanted me to go home
to him and Jack and our new mother. So I did, although at first I was
very sorry to leave Auntie and the dear old ship and all our lovely
wanderings."

"Oh, tell me all about them," demanded Nan. "Why, Florrie Hamilton, to
think you've never said a word about your wonderful experiences! I
love to hear about foreign countries from people who have really been
there. Please just talk--and I'll listen and ask questions."

Florrie did talk. I'm not sure whether she or Nan was the more
surprised to find that she could talk so well and describe her travels
so brightly and humorously. The afternoon passed quickly, and when
Florrie went away at dusk, after a dainty tea served up in Nan's room,
it was with a cordial invitation to come again soon.

"I've enjoyed your visit so much," said Nan sincerely. "I'm going down
to see you as soon as I can walk. But don't wait for that. Let us be
good, chummy friends without any ceremony."

When Florrie, with a light heart and a happy smile, had gone, came
Maude, sunburned and glowing from her picnic.

"Such a nice time as we had!" she exclaimed. "Wasn't I sorry to think
of you cooped up here! Did Florrie come?"

"One Florrie did. Maude, you addressed that note to Florrie Hamilton
today instead of Florrie Hastings."

"Nan, surely not! I'm sure--"

"Yes, you did. And she came here. Was I not taken aback at first,
Maude!"

"I was thinking about her when I addressed it, and I must have put her
name down by mistake. I'm so sorry--"

"You needn't be. I haven't been entertained so charmingly for a long
while. Why, Maude, she has travelled almost everywhere--and is so
bright and witty when she thaws out. She didn't seem like the same
girl at all. S