Almost immediately a Gunkus in livery stepped up and handed her a note
from Avrillia. He made a low bow, holding his shoe in his right hand
over his heart.

It was written on a rose-leaf, of course, and it had a delightful
faint odor, not only of roses, but of isthagaria. Sara opened it, and
read,

"We're leaving on the early boat. Would you like to go with us? We'll
be gone all day."

There was no answer to that but to run as fast as she could down the
little curly path. This morning it was not so much curly as melodious;
but Sara was in such a hurry that she hardly noticed. She forgot to
dismiss the Gunkus, but left him standing in front of the
dimple-holder, still bowing low, with his left shoe in his right hand
over his heart.

Pirlaps was standing on the front steps, all ready to start, and
beside him grinned Yassuh, carrying the step in one hand and an
enormous traveling-bag (almost as large as Sara's mother's leather
purse) in the other.

"Good-morning, Sara," said Pirlaps, in his unfailingly delightful way,
"I'm glad you got here in time. Avrillia will be ready in a second or
two."

Sara could hardly keep from skipping, she was so pleased at the
prospect of a day's expedition with Pirlaps and Avrillia. She did not