“Yes, anywhere that you would like to go.  Suppose we make out a list of the places we would like to visit,” he said, taking out pencil and paper.

“Oh, yes, papa,” she answered eagerly; “I would like to go to Washington, to see the Capitol, and the President’s house, and then to Philadelphia to see Independence Hall, where they signed the Declaration, you know, and then to New York, and then to Boston; for I want to see Bunker Hill, and Faneuil Hall, and all the places that we read so much about in the history of the Revolution, and—­but, papa, may I really go wherever I want to?” she asked, interrupting herself in the midst of her rapid enumeration, to which he was listening with an amused expression.

“I said so, did I not?” he replied, smiling at her eagerness.

“Well, then, papa, I want to see Lakes Champlain and Ontario; yes, and all those great lakes—­and Niagara Fails; and to sail up or down the Hudson River and the Connecticut, and I would like to visit the White Mountains, and—­I don’t know where else I would like to go, but—­”

“That will do pretty well for a beginning, I think,” he said, laughing, “and by the time we are through with all those, if you are not ready to return home, you may be able to think of some more.  Now for the time of starting.  This is Wednesday—­I think we will leave next Tuesday morning.”

“I am glad it is so soon,” Elsie said, with a look of great satisfaction, “for I am in such a hurry to see Miss Rose.  Must I go on with lessons this week, papa?”

“With your music and drawing; but that will be all, except that we will read history together for an hour every day.  I know a little regular employment will make the time pass much more quickly and pleasantly to you.”

Elsie could now talk of very little but her expected journey, and thought that time moved much more slowly than usual; yet when Monday evening came and she and her father walked over the grounds, taking leave of all her favorite haunts, everything was looking so lovely that she half regretted the necessity of leaving her beautiful home even for a few months.

They started very early in the morning, before the sun was up, travelling to the city in their own carriage, and then taking the cars.

They visited Baltimore and Washington, staying just long enough in each place to see all that was worth seeing; then went on to Philadelphia, where they expected to remain several weeks, as it was there Miss Rose resided.  Mr. Allison was a prosperous merchant, with a fine establishment in the city, and a very elegant country-seat a few miles out of it.

On reaching the city Elsie was in such haste to see her friend, that she entreated her father to go directly to Mr. Allison’s, saying she was certain that Miss Rose would wish them to do so.

But Mr. Dinsmore would not consent.  “It would never do,” he said, “to rush in upon our friends in that way, without giving them any warning; we might put them to great inconvenience.”