eleventh hour had
refused to be left, a cage-full of canaries, and a foundling kitten who
had murderous designs on them; all of which had to be taken because, if
the bonne came, there would be nobody left to look after them.

At the corner Susy tore herself from Nick's arms and held up the
procession while she ran back to the second taxi to make sure that the
bonne had brought the house-key. It was found of course that she hadn't
but that Junie had; whereupon the caravan got under way again, and
reached the station just as the train was starting; and there, by some
miracle of good nature on the part of the guard, they were all packed
together into an empty compartment--no doubt, as Susy remarked, because
train officials never failed to spot a newly-married couple, and treat
them kindly.

The children, sentinelled by Junie, at first gave promise of superhuman
goodness; but presently their feelings overflowed, and they were not to
be quieted till it had been agreed that Nat should blow his motor-horn
at each halt, while the twins called out the names of the stations, and
Geordie, with the canaries and kitten, affected to change trains.

Luckily the halts were few; but the excitement of travel, combined
with over-indulgence in the chocolates imprudently provided by Nick,
overwhelmed Geordie with a sudden melancholy that could be appeased only
by Susy's telling him stories till they arrived at Fontainebleau.

The day was soft, with mild gleams of sunlight on decaying foliage;
and after luggage and livestock had been dropped at the pension Susy
confessed that she had promised the children a scamper in the forest,
and buns in a tea-shop afterward. Nick placidly agreed, and darkness
had long fallen, and a great many buns been consumed, when at length
the procession turned down the street toward the pension, headed by Nick
with the sleeping Geordie on his shoulder, while the others, speechless
with fatigue and food, hung heavily on Susy.

It had been decided that, as the bonne was of the party, the children
might be entrusted to her for the night, and Nick and Susy establish
themselves in an adjacent hotel. Nick had flattered himself that
they might remove their possessions there when they returned from the
tea-room; but Susy, manifestly surprised at the idea, reminded him
that her charges must first be given their supper and put to bed. She
suggested that he should meanwhile take the bags to the hotel, and
promised to jo