“What part?” he answered.  “Why, it tells on the ticket, Patsy.  I can’t remember the name just now.  It’s where the ship stops, of course.”

“That is Napoli,” said the thin faced man, with a scarcely veiled sneer.  “And then?”

“And then?” repeated Patsy, turning to her Uncle.

“Then?  Oh, some confounded place or other that I can’t think of.  I’m not a time-table, Patsy; but the trip is all arranged, in beautiful style, by a friend of mine who has always wanted to go abroad, and so has the whole programme mapped out in his head.”

“Is it in his head yet?” enquired Patsy, anxiously.

“No, dear; it’s in the left hand pocket of my blue coat, all written down clearly.  So what’s the use of bothering?  We aren’t there yet.  By and bye we’ll get to Eu-rope an’ do it up brown.  Whatever happens, and wherever we go, it’s got to be a spree and a jolly good time; so take it easy, Patsy dear, and don’t worry.”

“That’s all right, Uncle,” she rejoined, with a laugh.  “I’m not worrying the least mite.  But when folks ask us where we’re going, what shall we say?”

“Eu-rope.”

“And then?” mischievously.

“And then home again, of course.  It’s as plain as the nose on your face, Patsy Doyle, and a good bit straighter.”

That made her laugh again, and the strange Italian, who was listening, growled a word in his native language.  He wasn’t at all a pleasant companion, but for that very reason Patsy determined to make him talk and “be sociable.”  By degrees he seemed to appreciate her attention, and always brightened when she came to sit beside him.

“You’ll have to tell me your name, you know,” she said to him; “because I can’t be calling you ‘Sir’ every minute.”

He glanced nervously around.  Then he answered, slowly: 

“I am called Valdi—­Victor Valdi.”

“Oh, that’s a pretty name, Mr. Valdi—­or should I say Signor?”

“You should.”

“Do I pronounce it right?”

“No.”

“Well, never mind if I don’t; you’ll know what I mean, and that I intend to be proper and polite,” she responded, sweetly.

Beth, while she made fewer acquaintances than Patsy, seemed to have cast off her sullen reserve when she boarded the ship.  In truth, the girl was really happy for the first time in her life, and it softened her so wonderfully and made her so attractive that she soon formed a select circle around her.  A young lady from Cleveland, who had two big brothers, was impelled to introduce herself to Beth because of the young men’s intense admiration for the girl’s beautiful face.  When it was found that they were all from Ohio, they formed a friendly alliance at once.  Marion Horton was so frank and agreeable that she managed to draw out all that was best in Beth’s nature, and the stalwart young Hortons were so shyly enthusiastic over this, their first trip abroad, that they inspired the girl with a like ardor, which resulted in the most cordial relations between them.