Mrs. Peterkin in Egypt.

The family had taken passage in the new line for Bordeaux.  They supposed they had; but would they ever reach the vessel in New York?  The last moments were terrific.  In spite of all their careful arrangements, their planning and packing of the last year, it seemed, after all, as if everything were left for the very last day.  There were presents for the family to be packed, six steamer-bags for Mrs. Peterkin, half a dozen satchels of salts-bottles for Elizabeth Eliza, Apollinaris water, lunch-baskets.  All these must be disposed of.

On the very last day Elizabeth Eliza went into Boston to buy a bird, as she had been told she would be less likely to be sea-sick if she had a bird in a cage in her stateroom.  Both she and her mother disliked the singing of caged birds, especially of canaries; but Mrs. Peterkin argued that they would be less likely to be homesick, as they never had birds at home.  After long moments of indecision, Elizabeth Eliza determined upon two canary-birds, thinking she might let them fly as they approached the shore of Portugal, and they would then reach their native islands.  This matter detained her till the latest train, so that on her return from Boston to their quiet suburban home, she found the whole family assembled in the station, ready to take the through express train to New York.

She did not have time, therefore, to go back to the house for her own things.  It was now locked up and the key intrusted to the Bromwicks; and all the Bromwicks and the rest of the neighbors were at the station, ready to bid them good-by.  The family had done their best to collect all her scattered bits of baggage; but all through her travels, afterward, she was continually missing something she had left behind, that she would have packed and had intended to bring.

They reached New York with half a day on their hands; and during this time Agamemnon fell in with some old college friends, who were going with a party to Greece to look up the new excavations.  They were to leave the next day in a steamer for Gibraltar.  Agamemnon felt that here was the place for him, and hastened to consult his family.  Perhaps he could persuade them to change their plans and take passage with the party for Gibraltar.  But he reached the pier just as the steamer for Bordeaux was leaving the shore.  He was too late, and was left behind!  Too late to consult them, too late even to join them!  He examined his map, however,—­one of his latest purchases, which he carried in his pocket,—­and consoled himself with the fact that on reaching Gibraltar he could soon communicate with his family at Bordeaux, and he was easily reconciled to his fate.