ax her back; and I have a
clean frock on, too, and Louise will be oh so disappointed!" Here she
kissed the fluffy kitten on the nose. "So he is a beast; don't you
think so, Uncle Dick?"

"Such delay is highly reprehensible," I nodded.

"I'm glad you've come, Uncle Dick, and so is Auntie. She was hoping--"

"That will do, Dorothy!" Lisbeth interrupted.

"I wonder what she was hoping?" I sighed.

"If you say another word, Dorothy, I won't tell you any more about the
Fairy Prince," said Lisbeth.

"Why, then," I continued, seeing the threat had the desired effect,
"since Mr. Selwyn hasn't turned up, perhaps you would care to--"

"Be a pirate?" put in the Imp. "To come for a row with us?" I
corrected.

"Aboard the good ship Black Death," he went on, "'with the skull an'
cross-bones at our peak."

"Thanks," said Lisbeth, "but really, I don't think I should. What a
horrible name!"

"What's in a name? a boat by any other--" I misquoted. "If you like,
we'll call it the Joyful Hope, bound for the Land of Heart's Delight."

Lisbeth shook her head, but I fancied the dimple peeped at me for a
moment.

"It would be a pity to disappoint Louise," I said, reaching up to
stroke the fluffy kitten.

"Yes," cried Dorothy, "do let's go, Auntie."

"For the sake of Louise," I urged, and held out my arms to her. Lisbeth
was standing on the top stair and I on the lower, in exactly the same
attitudes as I had beheld in my vision. I saw her foot come slowly
toward me and stop again; her red lips quivered into a smile, and lo,
there was the dimple! Dorothy saw it, too--children are wonderfully
quick in such matters--and next moment was ensconced in the boat,
Louise in her lap, and there was nothing left for Lisbeth but to follow.

The Imp went forward to keep a "lookout," and finding a length of
fishing line, announced his intention of "heaving the lead."

I have upon several occasions ridden with Lisbeth--she is a good
horsewoman--frequently danced with her, but never before had I been
with her in a boat. The novelty of it was therefore decidedly
pleasing, the more so as she sat so close that by furtively reaching
out a foot I could just touch the hem of her dress.

"Uncle Dick," said Dorothy, looking up at me with her big grey eyes,
"where is the Land of Heart's Delight?"

"It lies beyond the River of Dreams," I answered.

"Is it far away?"

"I afraid it is, Dorothy."

"Oh!--and hard to get to?"

"Yes though