“Oh, Auntie,” and Alice burst into tears. “What shall I do?”
“I know what I'm going to do. I shall send for Dr. Parshefield and have him give you a sleeping potion.”
The next day Alice began making preparations for her journey. Aunt Ella's arguments and appeals were in vain.
“I must go,” said Alice. “Where, I do not know, but God will direct me.”
“God won't do anything of the kind,” exclaimed Aunt Ella.
Her patience was exhausted. Then her manner changed. She accepted the inevitable, and did all she could to help her niece. One thing she insisted upon, and that was that Alice should have a companion. One who could speak French and German was found and Alice started upon her quest into, to her, unknown lands.
CHAPTER XXIII. — “BY THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE DANUBE”
Alice did not tell Aunt Ella where she was going. To have done so would have led her aunt to say that it was foolish to go there, for although she aided Alice in getting ready for her journey she was decidedly opposed to it. In fact, in her own mind she called it “a wild goose chase.” But she had learned that Alice had an indomitable will and she fully realized that further argument and opposition were useless.