watched me pound the bark, then twist off the loosened peeling, and finish the whistle.  When I blew it, they laughed.  I handed it to the boy, who timidly put it to his lips.  They sat down by me, and I made a whistle for the girl, then a third, bigger one, which I stuck into the boy’s pocket, telling him to take it home.  You ought to have seen the changed expression on those two dirty faces when they left me, blowing happily on their willow whistles.

I was lonesome no longer.  What a little thing will bring joy into a dreary life!

Love to all with heaping measures for you, from

Yours as ever,

CHESTER.

CHAPTER XIV.

A week of comparative quiet brought little change for the better to Lucy, so it was decided that they would by easy stages, get back to London, thence to Cork and Kildare Villa.  Lucy kept Chester informed of their doings, saying as little as possible about her health.  As she did not wish to deprive him of the full enjoyment of his visit to Switzerland, she did not send him word of their intentions, until they were ready to leave.  They would go by way of Calais and Dover, the short-water route, she wrote him.

When Chester received this information he hastily cut short his sight seeing, and started for London by way of Rotterdam.  The long ride alone was somewhat tiresome, and he was glad to meet again some of the elders in the land of canals and windmills.

Just before the train rolled into Rotterdam, Chester thought of Glen Curtis.  It came to him as a distinct shock when he realized that he had entirely forgotten to enquire about Glen on his former visit.  “Well,” said he to himself, “so easily do our interests change from one person to another.”  But now he must find his old friend.  He could freely talk to him now even about Julia Elston.

Chester learned from the elder in charge at the office, that Elder Curtis was released to return home in a few days.  He would be in Rotterdam shortly.  When?  In a few days.  But Chester could not wait that long, so he took train to the city where Glen was laboring, and found him making his farewell rounds.

“Well of all things,” exclaimed the elder, as Chester took him firmly by the hand.

“I’m the last person on earth you expected to see here in Dutchland, I suppose?”

“You certainly are.  And what are you doing here?”

Chester told him as they walked arm in arm along the quiet streets of the town.

“And now you’re going home.  We’ll go together,” exclaimed Glen.

“I wish we could,” said Chester, “but I fear that my party is not ready, and Lucy is not well enough to make the trip, I fear.”

“Lucy?”

Chester smiled goodnaturedly, then told him freely of Lucy.  “And when you get home, you can tell Julia all about me and mine.  It will please her, I am sure.  By the way, how is it between Julia and you?  I haven’t heard lately.”