Five Little Peppers Abroad

a museum until I give the word," Grandpapa had laid down the law. "I'm not going to begin by being all tired out." So Polly and Jasper had gone sometimes with Mr. King and Phronsie

rlook the travelling clothes than do any more sight-seeing. And then again, they would all c

find out how to take care of living bodies before I stare at bones and relics," and Mr. King would laugh and let him alone. "He's incorrigible, that husband of yours, Mrs. Fisher

andpapa said, "Now for

shed as red as a rose. They were at breakfast, and eve

nd prim people good to hear a little enthusiasm." Polly knew whom he meant,-some young Englishmen. One of them immediately put

approvingly at poor Polly, which caused her to lift her head; "the carr

Jasper, in dismay, "mu

you go, Jasper?"

Jasper, perfectly delighted that he could ge

n disgust. "How can you ask it, Jasper? No, i

deck of the tram-car is so high and there are fine seats there,

r all. He had just opened his mouth to say authoritatively, "No use, Jasper, either you will go in the way I have provided, or stay at home," when Phronsie slipped out of he

ly," whispered Jasper

s like that.

Phronsie, instead of in a carriage?" Old Mr. King

e office and countermand the order for the carriages, my son; tell them to put the amount on my bill, the same as if I'd used them, unless they get a chance to let them to some one else. They needn't be the losers. Now then," as Jasper

n and getting out of his chair. "I am going, for there is a marine

ind one on a desert is

now, all of you-a

hing, mixing with a crowd and hurrying for seats just like common ordinary individuals. And as he toiled up the winding stairs, Phronsie in front of him, he had an exhilaration already that made

Polly Pepper, clasping her hands in delight, and

Mother Fisher, "else when the car s

elessly, yet she sat down, while Jasper got

?" he cried. "And isn't it bett

k to his seat. A hand not over clean was laid on it, and a tall individual, who was pouring out very bad provincial French at a fearful rate, wa

he same language, only of a better quality, "this

twisted and edged, but Jasper slipped neatly in, and looked calmly up at him. The Frenchman,

nch in a hurry, being very elegant at it, and exceedingly caref

nly this person chose to try to take m

" commanded Mr. King, i

I'll see that some on

under the white hair, and he accordingly left a position in front of Jasper to sidle up toward Mr. King's seat in a threa

," cried the little doctor, standing on his tiptoes and bristling with indignation. His bi

as big as the doctor was small. With one look he glanced around to see if there were any more such specimens. At any rate, it was time to b

ar started off, "if this is to be the style of our companions, I think my plan

not happen again in a hundre

father. And as everybody had regained composure, he was be

was best," and he smiled more than once over at Jasper, who wa

vice-it's a nuisance to try to compass the whole place on the first visit." But Po

s seat, and beamed at her over his big glasses. She began to look rested and young already. "This journey is the very thing," he dec

agined anything like

swered. "That's the go

aimed, as enthusiastically as Polly herself. "And what a perfect arch!"

crying as they rumbled along. "See, Jasper, there

er these oaks in the Scheveningsche Boschjes-O dear me, I do

ounce it, Jasper. I just mark thi

won't they, Polly?" remarked Jasper, in a pause,

will," laughed Polly.

ll round the edges-a

Baedeker; it's the only way to jot things down in any sort of order. One can't be whipping out a note-bo

ne-half as beautiful as this delicious old wood is, Jasper. Just see that perfectly beaut

out with us, and we will tramp it. Oh,

et's ask him sometime, anyway, Jasper. And then, just th

ay a few days, maybe," said Jasper, "if he takes a

olly, "because I haven

question," said Jasper, with a laugh. "Well, an

backward glance down the green avenue. "I hope w

es," said Jasper. "We shall feel just as badl

," said Polly

walk down to the Curhaus and the beach. Old Mr. King, as young as any one, started out on the

pa. "See, child," pointing to it; but Phronsie had no eyes for anyt

ey?" she cried, pulling his

King, "and by and by we will go

at Grandma Bascom always wore when she wen

g into a laugh. "How you alwa

up and down the sides of some of them," cr

id Jasper. "You'll find that everythin

all covered over with posters," sai

of that. And these,-cocoa or chocolate. You

as she had feasted on it since their arrival in Holla

echoed Jasper, smac

ed to address his neighbour,

d his wife, "to his beloved h

w so many people together before. Just look!" he pointed d

it?" said his wife. "W

g down to th

tay on the sands, and to explore further the tempting interiors. "We must get something for the boys," she declared, jingl

ly," said Jasper. "There they are," pointing to them. "Well, we'll go in this

k Davie would like, and-" the rest was lost in the confusing array

gs, and Jasper carried all the big bundles. "O dear me," said Polly, "now we must run, or we sha'n't

pieces. Wait a bit, Polly, I'm going to buy you some fruit." They stopped at the top of the stone stairway leading down to the sands, where some c

Jasper," said Polly. "Ar

good woman, give us a couple of pounds." He put down the coin she asked for, and

y got over the stairs somehow with their burdens, "since w

mful of presents, to investigate his paper of

ed Polly, as they picked their wa

ting black Hamburg grapes. Phronsie sat opposite him almost lost in the depth of another Bath chair, similarly occupied.

ir bundles on the soft sand; then she threw herself down next t

, then rushed off. "I'll get you a Bath c

uch rather sit on the

nd throwing himself down beside her. "No

aid, poking open the paper. "

y were," declared Jasper

ne," said Polly, holdi

take that o

han mine," said J

fore we go," said Polly, nodding at the array along the b

begged Jasper, setting down the remainder

and ever and ever so much better. I only want to see for a minute what it's like to be in one o

d again. "They must be very stuffy, Polly. Well, now you are here,

the Dunes, the beach, with the crowds of people of all nationalities, and the pe

e out here again, child, and stay a week. Yes," he said to hims

hand on his knee, "can I have this ver

a as a food; "they're all alike as two peas, except for the matter of the chocolate and cocoa trimmings. But perhaps I can fix it, Phronsie, s

with a sigh of contentment, as she slowly got out of her Bath cha