fireworks, and ice
cream, and dancing, and games, and souvenirs. I should never have been
so happy again, Soosana, if I had missed going, I know," she concluded,
kissing Soosana with such fervor, that she put a dent in that portion
of her doll's head where she had been kissed; but this time Soosana was
sure she did not care.

_CHAPTER XVI_
_The Mail and Ethelwyn's Visit_

Good-bye, speed by
Days till we meet again.
Hearts' ease, ne'er cease,
Keep free from fret or pain.

There had come an interesting mail that morning, for it began with
another letter from Cousin Gladys, who was in London now for the winter,
and there was also one from Aunty Stevens and from Grandmother Van
Stark. While the two children ate their oatmeal and cream, they read
their cousin's letter. This was it:

"DEAR COUSINS:

"We have seen the Coronation, and my eyes ached, there was so much
to see and do. It was worse than a circus with six rings.

"The King is not pretty, but I suppose that won't hinder him from
being good, and nurse is always saying, 'Pretty is that pretty
does, Miss Gladys.' I think she thinks that the two hardly ever go
together. The dear Queen is pretty, however, and so young-looking
and sweet that even nurse has to give in about her.

"I will tell you all about it when we come home, but it tires me
now even to think about it. One morning I begged to go back to the
hotel and rest, and nurse was so disappointed that I told her she
could go out and I would stay alone. I dug around in my trunk and
got rather homesick, looking at the things I had at home. I found
some jacks but no ball, so I thought I would go down to a near-by
shop, and buy one. I slipped down and out, before I had time to
think about mother making me promise not to go anywhere alone. I
turned a corner or two, but didn't find the right kind of a shop.
It was cloudy, and sort of foggy, and crowds and crowds of people
were pushing along. I knew all at once that I was lost, and I began
to feel a lump in my throat, bigger than any ball you ever saw, and
just then I saw a tall man coming towards me. I saw only his legs,
but they looked so Americanish that I rushed up, and said, 'Please
take me to the L---- Hotel,' He stopped at once and said, 'Well, I
certainly will; I am going there myself.' He was a minister from