too, Prince proved a little more restive than had been anticipated,
from not having been out in two days, and the groom suggested that he
take the animal up and down the road on a sharp gallop to give the
excess spirit a chance to be worked off. So Grace saw to it that she
had at least part of her share of chocolates before she left.

"And I have just time to hear the rest about the grand surprise," she
said to Betty, who had been turning and creasing in her hand the
letter her uncle had written.

"I'm afraid I can't go as much into detail as I thought I could,"
confessed Betty. "But I'll read you the letter my old sea-captain
uncle sent me. It begins: 'In port; longitude whatever you like, and
latitude an ice cream soda.' Then he goes on:

"'Dear messmate. Years ago, when you first signed papers to voyage
through life, when you weren't rated as an A. B., you used to have me
spill sea-yarns for you. And you always said you were going to be a
sailor, shiver my timbers, or something like that,-- real sailor-like,
so it sounded.

"'I never forgot this, and I always counted on taking you on a voyage
with me. But your captain-- that is to say your father-- never would
let me, and often the barometer went away down between him and me.

"'Howsomever, I haven't forgotten how you liked the water, nor how
much you wanted a big ship of your own. You used to make me promise
that if ever I could tow the Flying Dutchman into port that you could
have it for a toy. And I promised.