and mamma'd stop talking; but we never thought of Europe."

"Until this morning," continued Charlie, "after breakfast, when papa
said, 'Boys, how would you like a trip to Europe with your mother and
me?'"

"At first we thought he was joking," again interrupted eager little
Selwyn, "because his eyes twinkled just as they do when he is telling a
joke."

"But he wasn't," resumed his brother, "and the long and short of the
matter is that we are all--papa, mamma, sister Agatha, Selwyn, and
I--to sail in the Majestic, June 17, so we've only about a week more to
wait."

"Oh! oh! it's too splendid for anything!" cried Selwyn, clapping his
hands in delight and giving the hammock a sudden impetus, which set it
swaying rapidly. "We're to spend some time with Uncle Geoffrey
Barrington--you know, Ned, Rex's father--and we're to see all the
sights of 'famous London town'--the Houses of Parliament, the Zoo,
Westminster Abbey, and the dear old Tower! Just think of it, Ned,
papa's going to show us the very cells in which Lady Jane Grey and Sir
Walter Raleigh were shut up! Oh, don't I wish you were going, too!"

"Wouldn't it be splendid!" said Charlie, throwing his arm across Ned's
shoulders.

"Wouldn't it!" echoed Ned, ruefully. "I wonder when our turn will
come; soon, I hope. I shall miss you fellows awfully."