"I know somebody will forget something!" she exclaimed for the fiftieth time. "Be sure, all of you, to remember." "Not to forget," interrupted Eric, mischievously. "The carriage has come to the door, Herr Von Nichols!" Gretchen announced, through her tears. All the Werniers, the ancient holders of the castle, had been Herr Vons; and as Mrs. Nichols was a Wernier, Gretchen had adopted the villagers' fashion of bestowing the title upon the husband. The servants were in the hall, sorrowfully awaiting the departure of their kind patrons. "Good by! Good by!" the children shouted; while the mournful group bade them "God speed." "Who's forgotten anything?" said Nettie, crowding into a corner of the carriage. "I think you have, my dear," answered her mother. "Where is your sacque?" Nettie looked quite dismayed. "O, I packed it, mamma. I forgot I was to wear this dress." There was a general consternation at this confession, until mauma drew the missing article from under her shawl. "Here 'tis, Miss Nettie. I 'spects you'd want it." "I'm ever so much obliged to you, mauma," said Nettie, eagerly seizing the sacque, and putting herself into it, while Mrs. Hyde rewarded the faithful old colored woman with a grateful smile. "I was so busy remembering for the others, mamma," Nettie said, apologetically. "Perhaps it would be as well for you to attend more particularly to yourself, my dear," was her mother's mild rebuke. Mr. Nichols and the boys were busy stowing boxes and parcels in various hidden compartments of the carriage. Just as Mr. Nichols announced that they were ready to start, Eric thrust his head in at the door, exclaiming, funnily,-- "Mamma, Nettie is so anxious, suppose you all just feel inside your bonnets, to make sure that your heads are here?" "Don't detain us, Eric," his mother said, smiling at the frank, joyous face. "All right, mamma. This is my load: let me see,--Mrs. Hyde, Adele, Nettie, and mauma. Go ahead, Carl." The coachman drew up his reins, and the spirited horses, after curvetting and prancing for an instant, dashed down the avenue, Adele's and Nettie's white handkerchiefs floating on the breeze, in a last adieu to Wernier. They were followed immediately by another carriage, containing Mr. and Mrs. Nichols and the boys; and, except for the group of sorrowing servants, watching the fast-disappearing carriages, Castle Wernier was left alone. CHAPTER II. "THE HAGUE." "The sun rode high, the breeze was free, High dashed the diamond spray, And proudly o'er the dark blue sea The steamer ploughed her way." Aboard of the Hague, the children, watching the distant spires and domes of Hamburg "melt into air" as the vessel bore, with almost imperceptible motion rapidly towards the North Sea, began to realize that they would see no more of Wernier. And though their sorrow but faintly came home to them, they were sad and thoughtful.