“Let us go very early in the spring. If we stop here until the season begins to put forth all its beauty, I shall never be able to leave this ‘sweet old home,’ as Drusa calls it.” Thus spoke General Lyon one morning in March, when the family were assembled at breakfast, discussing the subject of their trip to Europe. “Then as this is the fifteenth, and the spring is held to commence about the twenty-first, we had better begin to see about our voyage at once. Do you wish to start as early as the first of April?” inquired Dick. “No; that plan would give us but two weeks to get ready in, and it is necessary to secure berths at least one month in advance. We shall not go before the middle of April. Then, also, we shall be sure that the equinoctial storms are quite over, to their very latest reverberation.” “Well, in any case, we had better fix upon our line of steamers, and write to the agent at once to take state-rooms,” suggested Anna. “Certainly,” agreed the General. And after a little more discussion of the merits of rival lines and individual steamers, their ship was selected, and Dick was authorized to write and secure state-rooms, and to be sure to get them amid-ships. Dick wrote, and in due course of mail he received the agent’s answer, saying that his party could have one state-room amid-ships and two near the bows. Dick showed this letter to the General, and the two in consultation decided that the choice state-room should be assigned to Drusilla and her child, while the other members of the party should take the less desirable berths. “But we must say nothing to her about it, or she may refuse to make herself and boy comfortable at our expense, and insist upon a different arrangement,” said the General. So Dick wrote again to the agent, enclosing a draft upon a New York banker to pay for the state-rooms. And lively preparations were commenced for the voyage. Drusilla, who never in her life had been a hundred miles from home, was delighted with the prospect of crossing the ocean and traveling in distant countries. Not only was her mind all alert with the anticipations of intellectual pleasures, but her heart was cheered with the hope of being nearer to Alexander. It was even possible that she might see him, or that he might see her little Leonard. And so Drusilla went enthusiastically to work with her preparations. But the whole party made the usual mistake of inexperienced voyagers—they encumbered themselves with an unnecessary amount of luggage. As if they were going beyond the bounds of civilization to live forever away from the possibility of purchasing the comforts or even the necessaries of life, they packed clothing by the twelve dozens, and filled many great trunks. As if the steamer had no store-room or pantry, they took hampers of canned meats and fruits and jars of jellies and preserves.