Part 2 (2/2)

”Good-night,” said Rollo's mother and Jonas, and Rollo added ”Good-_night_” more loudly than any.

You may be sure that little Rollo was up at day-dawn, his luncheon ready in a box, his travelling satchel neatly packed. Presently the largest automobile he had ever seen rolled up to the door, and to his delight, there was his Cousin Stella sitting on the back seat.

”Shall I sit with you, or with the gentleman on the front seat?” asked Rollo.

”With me,” cried his Cousin Stella, laughing gaily. ”Alley, Jong, a Sootomtom.”

”What was that you said?” questioned Rollo when the journey had really begun.

”That was French,” explained his cousin. ”'Alley a Sootomtom' means 'Go to Southampton.' 'Jong' is French for John.”

”Well, I declare!” cried Rollo. ”Really Cousin, you amaze me. But tell me, where are we, and whither are we going?”

”This is Long Island,” said Stella, pointing to level fields which bordered the highway.

”It seems to be mainly cabbages,” said Rollo, ”but I do not see any water.”

”You will presently,” said Stella. And sure enough, after they had travelled at a very rapid pace for a short time, Rollo began to catch glimpses of blue water dotted with tiny white sails. Coming as he did from an inland community, this excited Rollo very much and he kept shouting ”Hurrah! Hurrah!” and asking John to go faster.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”A gentleman in a dress suit took his lunch-box”]

To this John only shook his head and smiled.

”He is going as fast as he can,” said Cousin Stella. ”But I will tell the world, Rollo, you are a good sport.”

”I thank you very much,” said Rollo politely.

Shortly after this they drove through winding hills and stopped before a large house where, to Rollo's surprise, a gentleman in a dress-suit took his lunch-box and satchel from him and walked away with them as rapidly as possible.

Then another neatly dressed gentleman guided Rollo through many long hall-ways and up a flight of stairs to a beautiful chamber.

”This is your room, sir,” he said.

”Is it so?” said Rollo. ”Thank you, sir.”

The gentleman smiled pleasantly, and went out, leaving Rollo alone.

Looking at the handsome three-dollar watch which his father had given him, he saw to his surprise that it was long past his supper-hour.

”Very evidently I am too late for supper,” thought Rollo. Fortunately he still had his lunch-box which he had not thought to open during the journey, so that from this he supped very well indeed, slipped off his garments, said his evening prayer by the side of a very grand bed and was soon asleep.

”Well, Rollo,” said Stella's mother, who was his hostess next morning, ”we missed you last night at dinner. Where were you?”

”You must mean supper, do you not?” answered Rollo, and then explained how he had supped in his room the evening before, at which all the company laughed merrily.

”You are a dear boy, Rollo,” said his hostess, ”but you must remember that we have dinner at eight o'clock.”

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