"Oh, Nan," said Jack reproachfully, "how could you be so forgetful? Why, I've just been sitting here aching for the time to come when we could eat our supper. We never did have a real meal in a real dining-car before. I believe you would have sat there all night and dreamed, if we had let you."
"Night is the time to dream," replied Nan laughing as she bumped along the aisle of the swaying train in the wake of the others.
"Not when you haven't had any supper," returned Jack over her shoulder.
CHAPTER II
THE OLD GENTLEMAN
It was Jack who made their stay in New Orleans more memorable than it would otherwise have been, for she became possessed of a frantic love of elevators, and, having made friends with the elevator boy, spent most of her time, when she could escape from the others, in riding up and down from the top floor of the hotel to the basement. In consequence of this fancy she was led into a predicament which gave considerable trouble to the entire party.
Miss Helen was conducting the expedition to California, for she was an experienced traveler, but she confessed that Jack was an element such as she never before had been obliged to consider. The trunks had gone on to the station, the carriage was waiting at the door, the bill had been paid, the servants had received their tips, but no Jack appeared. Nan scurried in one direction, Mary Lee in another, Jean in a third. Had any one seen a little girl in brown hat and coat, wandering about the hotel?
"She was all ready to go, for I put on her hat myself," said Mrs. Corner. "What can have become of the child?"
Miss Helen started off to add her powers of search to the others. "We haven't a great deal of time," she remarked.
"Dear, dear, what could have made the child do so?" exclaimed Mrs. Corner, annoyed by the delay.