“You’d see what she would say, and how she would put you out of the house in no time, and take all your food away.”

“I don’t believe I should see her say anything at all,” retorted Fred, with another laugh.

“You’d find out how it would be, when you were sent home in disgrace; and you’d be ashamed to be seen in the railway carriage, and by the children in school.”

“I don’t mean to find out anything of the kind,” said Fred, and the contest dropped.

The coachman cracked his whip as a signal that it was high time to start.  Hurried good-byes were said; the children seized their bags, and seated themselves in the carriage; the horses started, and the journey was begun.  Mother and aunt stood by the road-side, and waved their handkerchiefs till the carriage turned a corner and was lost to view.

“Oh!  I wish I knew that they would meet with no accident, and would all come home safe!” said the mother, with a sigh, as she turned back to the house.

“That will be as God wills,” said her sister; “we must trust them to him, and pray him to send his angels to watch over them; that will be a better protection than any that we two could afford them.”

CHAPTER III.

ON THE BEAUTIFUL RHINE.

In the garden at Rosemount was such an excitement and running to and fro as had never been seen there before.  It was the day after the arrival of the three guests.  Great had been the surprise of the doctor’s children, yesterday evening, when they were shown up stairs, to find three large rooms assigned for their use, one to each.  For the house was so arranged that there was but one bed in each room.  The windows of all three rooms overlooked the garden, and beyond could be seen the river.  The children had never before been so royally lodged.  Emma planned directly to spend long hours at her window, looking into the moonlight and listening to the river, as late as she chose, for no one would come to send her off to bed.  Oscar looked about the large apartment, and thought what a fine place it would be to spread out his banners.  They would not be in any one’s way, as they were at home; and no one would come and clear them out.  Fred examined all the presses, tables, and drawers, and destined them to his special uses.

The meeting of the five children was a most joyous one to them all.  From the first moment they found themselves on as intimate a footing as if they had never been separated.  Elsli and Fani were not changed as the doctor’s children had feared they might be; on the contrary, it seemed as if they were even nearer to their old friends.  Fani was merrier and more lively than ever, and Elsli, although still somewhat shy, was more confiding than before, and just as amiable and obliging; and they both were so attractive in their nice clothes, that Emma took great delight in merely looking at them.