d
that will explain all."

But it took them an hour or two to reach the carryall, with frequent
stoppings for rest, and when they reached it no one was in it. A note
was pinned up in the vehicle to say they had all walked on; it was
"prime fun."

In this way the parties continued to dodge each other, for Mrs.
Peterkin felt that she must walk on from the next station, and the
carryall missed her again while she and Agamemnon stopped in a house
to rest, and for a glass of water. She reached the carryall to find
again that no one was in it. The party had passed on for the last
station, where it had been decided all should meet at the foot of
grandfather's hill, that they might all arrive at the house together.
Mrs. Peterkin and Agamemnon looked out eagerly for the party all the
way, as Elizabeth Eliza must be tired by this time; but Mrs.
Peterkin's last walk had been so slow that the other party were far in
advance and reached the stopping-place before them. The little boys
were all rowed out on the stone fence, awaiting them, full of delight
at having reached grandfather's. Mr. Peterkin came forward to meet
them, and, at the same moment with Mrs. Peterkin, exclaimed: "Where is
Elizabeth Eliza?" Each party looked eagerly at the other; no Elizabeth
Eliza was to be seen. Where was she? What was to be done? Was she left
behind? Mrs. Peterkin was convinced she must have somehow got to
grandfather's. They hurried up the hill. Grandfather and all the
family came out to greet them, for they had been seen approaching.
There was great questioning, but no Elizabeth Eliza!

It was sunset; the view was wide and fine. Mr. and Mrs. Peterkin stood
and looked out from the north to the south. Was it too late to send
back for Elizabeth Eliza? Where was she?

Meanwhile the little boys had been informing the family of the object
of their visit, and while Mr. and Mrs. Peterkin were looking up and
down the road, and Agamemnon and Solomon John were explaining to each
other the details of their journeys, they had discovered some facts.

"We shall have to go back," they exclaimed. "We are too late! The
maple-syrup was all made last spring."

"We are too early; we shall have to stay two or three months,--the
cider is not made till October."

The expedition was a failure! They could study the making of neither
maple-syrup nor cider, and Elizabeth Eliza was lost, perhaps forever!
The sun went down, and Mr. and Mrs. Peterkin still stood to lo