“Where is Elizabeth Eliza?  Where is Solomon John?” Mrs. Peterkin exclaimed, seizing Mr. Peterkin’s arm.  Where indeed?  There was a pile of the hand-baggage of the family, but not that of Elizabeth Eliza, not even the bird-cage.  “It was on the top of the other omnibus,” exclaimed Mrs. Peterkin.  Yes, one of the little boys had seen it on the pavement of the court-yard of the hotel, and had carried it to the omnibus in which Elizabeth Eliza was sitting.  He had seen her through the window.

“Where is that other omnibus?” exclaimed Mrs. Peterkin, looking vaguely over the deck, as they were fast retreating from the shore.  “Ask somebody what became of that other omnibus!” she exclaimed.  “Perhaps they have gone with the English people,” suggested Mr. Peterkin; but he went to the officers of the boat, and attempted to explain in French that one half of his family had been left behind.  He was relieved to find that the officers could understand his French, though they did not talk English.  They declared, however, it was utterly impossible to turn back.  They were already two minutes and a half behind time on account of waiting for a party who had been very long in crossing the gangway.

Mr. Peterkin returned gloomily with the little boys to Mrs. Peterkin.  “We cannot go back,” he said, “we must content ourselves with going on; but I conclude we can telegraph from Malta.  We can send a message to Elizabeth Eliza and Solomon John, telling them that they can take the next Marseilles P. & O. steamer in ten days, or that they can go back to Southampton for the next boat, which leaves at the end of this week.  And Elizabeth Eliza may decide upon this,” Mr. Peterkin concluded, “on account of passing so near the Canary Isles.”

“She will be glad to be rid of the birds,” said Mrs. Peterkin, calming herself.

These anxieties, however, were swallowed up in new trials.  Mrs. Peterkin found that she must share her cabin (she found it was called “cabin,” and not “stateroom,” which bothered her and made her feel like Robinson Crusoe),—­her cabin she must share with some strange ladies, while Mr. Peterkin and the little boys were carried to another part of the ship.  Mrs. Peterkin remonstrated, delighted to find that her English was understood, though it was not listened to.  It was explained to her that every family was divided in this way, and that she would meet Mr. Peterkin and the little boys at meal-times in the large salon—­on which all the cabins opened—­and on deck; and she was obliged to content herself with this.  Whenever they met their time was spent in concocting a form of telegram to send from Malta.  It would be difficult to bring it into the required number of words, as it would be necessary to suggest three different plans to Elizabeth Eliza and Solomon John.  Besides the two they had already discussed, there was to be considered the possibility of their having joined the English party.  But Mrs. Peterkin was sure they must have gone back first to the Hotel de Noailles, to which they could address their telegram.