“I heartily approve of your resolution to travel with as little baggage as possible,” said the doctor solemnly, “so I’ve put up these prescriptions for seasickness in as concentrated a form as possible.” And he presented Betty and Babbie each with a half-gallon bottle, and Babe and Madeline with huge wooden boxes marked “Pills.” A tag on Babe’s read, “To be exchanged for fruit on day of sailing.” Madeline’s tag said, “Good for the same size at Huyler’s,” while Betty’s specified salted almonds, and Babbie’s preserved ginger.
“I’ll see that the goods are delivered at your boat,” the doctor assured them, “and if the ship’s physician doesn’t get some practice out of you it certainly won’t be my fault.”
“But you haven’t told us what you want us to bring you,” said Betty.
“Yourselves safe and sound,” said Dr. Brooks gallantly.
The girls were not so modest. Helen, who had stayed at home from the city to print the travelers’ names in indelible ink on three dozen laundry markers apiece, confessed shyly that she had always wanted a good photograph of the Mona Lisa.
“To think that you’re going to see the real one!” she said. “I’m going to begin right away to save my money for a trip abroad.”
“So am I,” echoed Rachel.
“And I,” from K.
European travel was evidently the “Merry Hearts’” latest enthusiasm.
“In the meantime,” laughed Eleanor, “here are some baggage tags for the ones who are really going. They say you have to mark all your bags and trunks over there, because they don’t have checks, and you just have to pick your things out of the big pile on the station platforms.”