re on
business, and our departure may, necessarily, be sudden. Good-morning."

She departed, followed by the smiles and curtesies of Mrs. Gunter, but
not till the latter had found time to whisper huskily, "Aren't they
sweet girls, 'm, and do you wonder it breaks me in pieces to lose 'm?"
to which she responded heartily,

"Indeed, I can fully understand your grief. They are delightful, and
singularly alike. If I were to describe each in a word, I should say
Hope is radiant, Faith lovely, and both are charming!"

CHAPTER II.

THE LEAVE-TAKING.

There were lively times in the Portsea lodging-house, next morning.
The many last small tasks that crowd upon the out-going voyager had
kept even Hope too busy to talk much, and she at length stopped
breathlessly, to cry, as she jammed her dressing-sacque and tooth-brush
into an already over-crowded bag,

"Dear me! Faith, have you a spot for my hair-brush? It won't fold up
nor crush down, and this crocodile is just gorged. I don't know that I
can ever snap his jaws to in the world!"

Faith looked and smiled an assent.

"Toss it over! If your alligator-grip is full I can find room in this
telescope, but I hope it won't break my scent bottle."

"Oh, alligator--yes, but what's the difference? The creatures look
alike in the pictures, I'm sure. That's a darling! Now, if I can ever
find the eye for this hook--oh, thank you! How calm you are. Why, my
hands fairly shake with nervousness. Now I believe I'm ready."

"I too," returned Faith, taking up her gloves and smiling at Deborah,
who just then opened the door, displaying eyes swollen with weeping and
cap awry, and who observed sobbingly,

"The new lady--Mrs. Rollston--is below, and asked if you was gone. I
thowt as likely she was a-wantin' to see you again, if you don't mind,
though she didn't really ask for you. Will you be pleased to come
down?"

"Yes indeed!" cried Hope. "Where _did_ I put that umbrella? Oh, I
remember! It's tied to the steamer trunk. We may as well take our
luggage all down, as we go so soon."

"Yes," said Faith, who had already lifted the telescope and a linen
rug-holder, embroidered with her initials, and calmly sailed out, while
Hope buzzed aimlessly about, picking up sundry small belongings, during
which time Debby shouldered her heavier packages and followed. The
girls allowed no dissimilarity in their costumes, to the smallest
detail, but for convenience' sake had se