"We have been floating upon a river of dreams," I answered, rising and lifting my hat; "we have likewise discoursed of many things. In the words of the immortal Carroll: "'Of shoes, and ships, and sealing wax, and cabbages, and--'" "Pirates!" burst out the Imp. "This dream river of ours," I went on, quelling him with a glance, "has carried us to you, which is very right and proper. Dream rivers always should, more especially when you sit ''Mid sunshine throned, and all alone.'" "But I'm not all alone, Dick." "No; I'm here," said a voice, and Dorothy appeared with her small and fluffy kitten under her arm as usual. "We are waiting for Mr. Selwyn, you know. We've waited, oh! a long, long time, but he hasn't come, and Auntie says he's a beast, and--" "Dorothy!" exclaimed Lisbeth, frowning. "Yes, you did, Auntie," sad Dorothy, nodding her head. "I heard you when Louise ran up a tree and I had to coax her back; and I have a clean frock on, too, and Louise will be oh so disappointed!" Here she kissed the fluffy kitten on the nose. "So he is a beast; don't you think so, Uncle Dick?" "Such delay is highly reprehensible," I nodded. "I'm glad you've come, Uncle Dick, and so is Auntie. She was hoping--" "That will do, Dorothy!" Lisbeth interrupted. "I wonder what she was hoping?" I sighed. "If you say another word, Dorothy, I won't tell you any more about the Fairy Prince," said Lisbeth. "Why, then," I continued, seeing the threat had the desired effect, "since Mr. Selwyn hasn't turned up, perhaps you would care to--" "Be a pirate?" put in the Imp. "To come for a row with us?" I corrected. "Aboard the good ship Black Death," he went on, "'with the skull an' cross-bones at our peak." "Thanks," said Lisbeth, "but really, I don't think I should. What a horrible name!" "What's in a name? a boat by any other--" I misquoted. "If you like, we'll call it the Joyful Hope, bound for the Land of Heart's Delight." Lisbeth shook her head, but I fancied the dimple peeped at me for a moment. "It would be a pity to disappoint Louise," I said, reaching up to stroke the fluffy kitten. "Yes," cried Dorothy, "do let's go, Auntie." "For the sake of Louise," I urged, and held out my arms to her. Lisbeth was standing on the top stair and I on the lower, in exactly the same attitudes as I had beheld in my vision. I saw her foot come slowly toward me and stop again; her red lips quivered into a smile, and lo, there was the dimple! Dorothy saw it, too--children are wonderfully quick in such matters--and next moment was ensconced in the boat, Louise in her lap, and there was nothing left for Lisbeth but to follow. The Imp went forward to keep a "lookout," and finding a length of fishing line, announced his intention of "heaving the lead."