Part 15 (2/2)

”Too bad, isn't it?” observed Mr. Meredith, with his eyes on his plate.

”Halloo, there's the door bell; I wonder who can be coming to see us so early in the morning.”

”Why, it's father and mother,” exclaimed Winifred joyfully, springing down from her chair, and darting out into the hall as Norah opened the front door. ”Oh, mother, dear, you are early. We've only just finished breakfast.”

”It is such a lovely morning,” said Mrs. Hamilton, returning her little daughter's rapturous embrace, ”that your father and I thought we would take a trip down the bay.”

”Oh, how nice,” cried Winifred, clapping her hands. ”And isn't it funny?

Uncle Will and I have just been talking about trips. Are you sure you can really get away for a whole day, father?”

”I think I can manage it,” said Mr. Hamilton, laughing. ”Now run and get ready, little one, for our boat leaves at ten, and it's after nine already.”

Winifred flew upstairs for her belongings, told the good news to Josephine, and was back again in less than five minutes. She found her father and mother in the dining room with Uncle Will and Aunt Estelle.

They had evidently been talking about something which amused them, for every one was smiling, but as soon as Winifred came in Mr. and Mrs.

Hamilton rose to go.

”Good-bye, Winnie darling,” said Mrs. Meredith, kissing her little niece affectionately, ”it has been like a bit of old times having you back with us. You won't forget to write, Mollie?” she added in a lower tone to Mrs. Hamilton, as the two ladies went out into the hall together.

”Good-bye, mousie, and don't forget us,” said Uncle Will, as Winifred lifted her face for his good-bye kiss. ”I don't know how we shall manage to get on without you all summer.”

”Why, mother,” said Winifred, looking puzzled, as they hurried away towards the elevated railroad station, ”Uncle Will and Aunt Estelle said good-bye just as if they weren't going to see us again, and they're not going to the country till Sat.u.r.day.”

”Perhaps they were afraid something might prevent our meeting again before they leave,” said Mrs. Hamilton, rather evasively.

That sail down the bay was a new and very delightful experience to Winifred. She had never traveled much, and every new object of interest was a delight to her. The big, crowded steamboat, the beautiful bay, the Statue of Liberty, and the other interesting sights made the little girl feel as if she could not take in so many new wonders all at once, and she asked innumerable questions about everything, all of which her father and mother answered readily.

[Ill.u.s.tration: That sail down the bay was a new and delightful experience.--_Page 136._]

”What are we going to do when we get to the place where the boat stops?”

she inquired anxiously, as they pa.s.sed the Floating Hospital. ”Must we go right back to New York again?”

”Well, I think we will go a little way in a train first,” said Mr.

Hamilton, trying to look grave, although his eyes twinkled. ”It would be rather a pity to go so far without seeing the ocean, don't you think so?”

”Oh, are we really going to see the ocean?” cried Winifred joyfully. ”I think this is one of the nicest things that ever happened.”

At the Atlantic Highlands they left the boat, and got into a train, which they found waiting at the pier. There were several trains, in fact, and a great many people seemed to be getting into them. Winifred wondered where they were all going, and if any of the other children she saw were having half as good a time as she was.

”Look, Winnie, there is the ocean,” her mother said eagerly, as the train rushed across a long bridge, and a whiff of sea air blew in their faces.

”Where, where?” gasped Winifred, stretching her neck out of the car window. ”Oh, I see. Why, how big it is. I never saw water like that before. Do you suppose it looks like this at Navesink?”

”I should not be at all surprised if it looked very much like it,” said Mrs. Hamilton, laughing.

At that moment the train began to slacken speed.

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