Jack took his leave, saying that he had promised his uncle to spend
the night with him, but would return the first thing in the morning,
uncle and all, to accompany them home, he drew Lucile aside for a
moment.

"Mighty hard luck, not seeing the lights, after all," he whispered, "but
there may be other times."

"I don't know when we will ever get to Europe again, and there was so
much to see yet--Switzerland, and Rome, and--and----" She struggled
bravely to choke back the tears of bitter disappointment that rose to her
eyes. "I--I don't see--why they had to have an old war--anyway," she
sobbed.

For a moment they were alone, and very gently he took her hand in his.
"Don't you worry," he soothed. "Some time, after we get home, perhaps you
will come to New York, and then I'll show you Broadway. It's better than
anything you can get over here, anyway! Here, I have your handkerchief,"
and he abstracted a filmy little square, all lace and no center, from his
pocket and handed it to her.

"Thank you," she said, and smiled uncertainly through her tears. "You
must think I'm very childish and foolish--and--everything----"

"Especially the last----"

"Lucile, Lucile, Dad wants to know where you are." It was Phil's voice.

"I'm coming," called Lucile; then, turning to Jack, "Good-by," she
murmured, suddenly very reluctant to have him go.

"Until to-morrow," he whispered, and was gone.

CHAPTER XXVI

THROUGH SHROUDING MISTS

To the girls, the week that followed seemed like some vivid, disjointed
nightmare. They were hurried from Paris to London and from London to
Liverpool, along with crowds of worried, anxious Americans, who, like
themselves, were fleeing from the unexpected cataclysm.

After much difficulty, Mr. Payton finally succeeded in securing two
staterooms, second cabin, while Jack and his Uncle were lucky enough to
get one not very far removed from our party.

"But how are we going to manage with only two cabins for six of us;
little ones at that, from your account?" Mrs. Payton protested, in
dismay. "Why, the three girls and I will have to occupy one between us!"

"Can't be helped," replied Mr. Payton, and then added, with intense
earnestness, "I don't believe that one of you realize yet the magnitude
of this tragedy that menaces Europe. If you did, you would thank your
lucky stars every minute of the day that you have the chance to leave
England for our own blessed country, no matter what the c