From Sicily, the ever wandering Mrs. De Wolfe, took ship for Egypt, where she put up at the Savoy Hotel, Cairo; here she discovered her friend, Mrs. Horne, already established, and heard that all the Miller party were at the Mena House.
"Six months' travelling had wrought a surprising change in her family," as Billy explained to her friend Nancy,—to whom she paid an immediate visit.
"I declare we are so altered, you will hardly recognize any of our party,—except myself. There is the Pater, he has cut off his little side whiskers, and wears up-to-date collars, and looks years younger; he plays golf, is very keen about excursions, and actually dances at our hotel balls! He has met crowds of old friends, and has come out of his shell in a most remarkable manner. Then mother has floated to the surface. She now goes about with us; dresses very smartly, has taken madly to Bridge, and can ride a donkey with the best. I think it was Minna's engagement that aroused her from her torpor. She was so immensely interested in a love affair at first hand! Minna is making a splendid match, and we all love Major Brently; he has become our brother, and what he calls, 'wheels us into line'; and is awfully good to us. Mother having, to use a sporting expression 'tasted blood,' has now great hopes of Brenda; and many people consider Baby, our beauty! The fact is, what with this inspiring climate, heaps of new friends, a whirl of excitement and amusement, our existence has been quickened, and we don't know ourselves, we are so happy!"
"Then your exodus has been a wonderful success! What a triumph for you, Billy? No one now dare call you 'Silly Billy!'"
"Yes, it has turned out all right, and even if nothing particular had occurred,—like Minna's engagement,—we would have had enough to think and talk about, for years. As it is, we have souvenirs to fill a room, and thousands of picture postcards; have enlarged our ideas, and made many friends,—even mother has her pals."
"You like Egypt, I can see," said Nancy.
"I just love it, the sand, the delicious desert air, the cloudless blue sky, and then Cairo itself. You and I must go about together, Nancy. I've been here six weeks, and am getting quite clever at finding my way, and making bargains. I can even talk a little Arabic. I have collected ever so many presents for the people at home."
"I am sure you have," said Nancy; "how I wish that I had people at home, I could take presents to."
"Oh! that will all come in time, my dear. Do tell me, have you come across any interesting young men?"