“And now, so would I, papa,” put in Elva.
“Quite so! Four in favor of the voyage. Now, Le?”
“Uncle, you know my anxiety that we be off. I would go by telegraph, if I could.”
“Five! Well, my dears, Mrs. Force and myself are already agreed that, upon all accounts, it is best that we should sail by the first Liverpool steamship on which we can procure staterooms for so large a party as ours is likely to be. I will write to the agent of the Cunard line by to-night’s mail. It is very necessary that we should go to England, without delay, not only to see our relative, Lord Enderby, whose health is in a very precarious condition, but also to investigate matters in which Odalite’s and Le’s welfare and happiness are deeply concerned. Rosemary, my dear, write and tell your aunt of our changed plans in regard to the time of the voyage. Children, this is the second of April. I think we will be able to sail by the twenty-third, at furthest. So you may all begin to get ready for your voyage,” said Mr. Force, rising to break up the conference.
CHAPTER XXI
PREPARING TO LEAVE
Mr. Force went at once to his writing desk to write letters—one to the New York agent of the Cunard line of ocean steamers; another to his overseer at Mondreer, and a third to Miss Grandiere.
When all these were dispatched he joined his family circle in the parlor.
The talk ran on events of the day.
“The proceedings were much less formal than I had supposed they would be,” Mrs. Force remarked.
Mr. Force laughed, and said: