Solomon John said it was not usual to allow more than one chance in a hundred.  People always said “one in a hundred,” as though that were the usual thing expected.  It was not at all likely that the whole family would be swept off.

Mrs. Peterkin was sure they would not want to lose one; they could hardly pick out which they could spare, she felt certain.  Agamemnon declared there was no necessity for such risks.  They might go directly by some vessel from Boston to Egypt.

Solomon John thought they might give up Egypt, and content themselves with Rome.  “All roads lead to Rome;” so it would not be difficult to find their way.

But Mrs. Peterkin was afraid to go.  She had heard you must do as the Romans did if you went to Rome; and there were some things she certainly should not like to do that they did.  There was that brute who killed Caesar!  And she should not object to the long voyage.  It would give them time to think it all over.

Mr. Peterkin thought they ought to have more practice in travelling, to accustom themselves to emergencies.  It would be fatal to start on so long a voyage and to find they were not prepared.  Why not make their proposed excursion to the cousins at Gooseberry Beach, which they had been planning all summer?  There they could practise getting in and out of a boat, and accustom themselves to the air of the sea.  To be sure, the cousins were just moving up from the seashore, but they could take down a basket of luncheon, in order to give no trouble, and they need not go into the house.

Elizabeth Eliza had learned by heart, early in the summer, the list of trains, as she was sure they would lose the slip their cousins had sent them; and you never could find the paper that had the trains in when you wanted it.  They must take the 7 A.M. train into Boston in time to go across to the station for the Gooseberry train at 7.45, and they would have to return from Gooseberry Beach by a 3.30 train.  The cousins would order the “barge” to meet them on their arrival, and to come for them at 3 P.M., in time for the return train, if they were informed the day before.  Elizabeth Eliza wrote them a postal card, giving them the information that they would take the early train.  The “barge” was the name of the omnibus that took passengers to and from the Gooseberry station.  Mrs. Peterkin felt that its very name was propitious to this Egyptian undertaking.

The day proved a fine one.  On reaching Boston, Mrs. Peterkin and Elizabeth Eliza were put into a carriage with the luncheon-basket to drive directly to the station.  Elizabeth Eliza was able to check the basket at the baggage-station, and to buy their “go-and-return” tickets before the arrival of the rest of the party, which appeared, however, some minutes before a quarter of eight.  Mrs. Peterkin counted the little boys.  All were there.  This promised well for Egypt.  But their joy was of short duration.  On presenting their tickets at the gate of entrance, they were stopped.  The Gooseberry train had gone at 7.35!  The Mattapan train was now awaiting its passengers.  Impossible!  Elizabeth Eliza had repeated 7.45 every morning through the summer.  It must be the Gooseberry train.  But the conductor would not yield.  If they wished to go to Mattapan they could go; if to Gooseberry, they must wait till the 5 P.M. train.