"Once a lady told me that nothing tasted so good to her on shipboard as some home-made cookies some one had given her, so I thought I'd try it for you. I packed them in a new tin pail with a tight cover, and I hope they'll keep crisp until you can eat them.
"Arthur promised to leave them in your stateroom, so if you don't find them you'll know it's his fault.
"I shall go in often and pet Fuzzy so that he won't miss you too much.
"Yours with love and kisses,
"BETTY."
"Isn't that Betty all over?" said Mrs. Jerry with a laugh. "So practical and helpful and anxious to comfort some one, if it's only a kitten."
"That accounts for the package down below that I didn't bring up," said Uncle Jerry. "I didn't realize it belonged to Ruth."
"Those cookies will taste good," laughed Ruth. "She couldn't have sent anything more—more Bettyesque."
The next thing was carefully packed and required much unwrapping, but as the last paper was taken off Ruth squealed with delight over a little traveling clock in a brown leather case. Enclosed with it were five cards each bearing a message. The first one that she read said in a small, even hand:
"This clock is to tick away the hours until you come back to us.
Please hurry so that it won't get too tired.—PHIL."