Five Little Peppers Abroad

o bear upon old Mr. King, "you've been very good to me, and I'

s for Polly, why, she's good-good as gold, sir." There was no mistaking Mr. Selwyn's sentiments there, a

up. "You've said the rig

" added the little old gentleman. "I want really to kn

Mr. King, confidently, "when you look at her mother a

ded. "And, sir, I really wish you would come down to my place with your party and give me a fortnight during your stay in England. I really do, sir, upo

Earl of Cavendish,"

en rid of all sorts of nuisances by it; interviews, and tiresome people. And I've enjoyed it mightily." He chuckled away till it seemed as if he were never going to sto

nderburgh to her daughter. "I never was so surprised at anything in all my life, to see that he k

iscontentedly. "And you keep me mewed up, and won't let me speak to anybo

ociety, that I always have been so particular," observed Mrs. Vanderburg

over at Polly and Jasper with the dreadful Selwyn boy between them, and Phronsie run

rty would go to Paris now,"

it!" cried Fanny, in a

mm

o use. And he doesn't seem to know how long he is going to stay in En

nny, impulsively, and her eyes brightened; "splen

Dykes are to be in

ma, don't go there now. Do change, and let us go t

was settled long ago, that we should meet Mrs. Van Dyke and Eleanor in Paris at just this very time

cried Fanny, passionately, "dragging around while

are much more important than any one to get in with. And I'd keep up the friendship with the Van Dykes. But that Mr. King is so ob

anny, her passion by no means cooled. "When I come out in society I'm going to c

Mr. Selwyn, for I really think I'd prefe

it's better just here, at all events," and he chuckled again. "Then you rea

to say it is qu

's face. "My stay in London is short, only a few days," Mr. King was saying, "and then we go directly to Hol

at some future time-to consider your plans before you return to America, and see if you can't manage to give me this great pleasure of welcoming you to my home? Think of it, I beg, and drop me a line; if at home, I shall always be most glad to have you with me. I should esteem it a privilege." The

e steamer but to be with the Kings till the last mome

anderburgh, while Fanny flew at Polly Pepper and engrossed her hungril

tieth time. "Our plans will not allow it. I hope you and you

exation. "I was going to see you and beg you even now to change your plans, while we were on the steamer waiting

was not bored. He is peculiar, but not at all common, and he h

tle high-bred laugh. "They are so insuffer

he Earl of Cavendish; it will do no har

Mrs. Vanderburgh i

eping his real identity unknown, and I must say I admire his taste in the matter; and anyway it was his affair and not mine."

" repeated Mr. King; "M

ay, he did not wi

thing that presented itself, a box of merchandise by no means cl

aited on Mrs. Vanderburgh and her daughter to their Lo

glared through his big spectacles,-"but Heaven defend us

his wife, calmly; "it really doesn't matter with our

e, for you and the Hendersons; for you steered pretty clear, I noticed, of that woman. Well, s

you have a quarter of an hour. I'

cktie and boots; and exactly at the time set, he joined the party, with a bright and shining fa

rwich train to the steamer that was to take them to the Ho

*

r, "for I've wanted to se

cried Polly, "to take us here

of pride. "And then 'it's prime,'" "as Joel used to say," he was going to add, but t

"he's ever and always the most splendid Grandpapa. Oh, I wish I c

they ran along to keep up with the Parson and Mrs. Henderson's comfortabl

Polly, "there isn't an

ever will be, Jasper?"

keep their eyes open. But don't you worry about your not doing anything for him, Polly

asper, I do so very much wish there might be s

hurry on once more, "that father said 'you can't begin

oning to us to hurry." So on they sped, having no breath for words. And presently they were on the boat, and little Dr. Fisher and Mr. Henderson went forward into the saloon, where the rooms r

,-it was all a marvel of happiness from beginning to end. And Jasper looking back over the two times he had been before to Europe with his father, although he had never seen Holland, remembered only a sort of d

Mrs. Henderson, Phronsie, and herself; "was anything ever so delicious as this boat?-and to think, Mamsie,"-here Polly

her, wisely, "if you want to be bright and ready re

to its pillow, and wriggling her toes in satisfacti

s soon as her head touched the pillow. Good

y little yawn, "and good night, dear Mrs. Hend