"Yes," said his mother, "'sick unto death.' He really was that. We have been quite a time in Europe, in consequence."
"Where were you?" asked Grace. "At some Baths?"
"Homburg is the only Bath worth going to," struck in Mr. Gunning. "Lots going on there, all the time."
"Horrid place. I hate it," said Miss Ballinger. Then, looking at her opposite neighbor, she continued, "I hope you were at a nice place. How long were you in Europe?"
"Four months. I was sent right off to Aix-la-Chapelle, after rheumatic fever, and then on to Spa. We had very little time to travel, but we did go around in Belgium and Holland for three weeks."
"One picks up awfully sweet delf and old oak in Holland," said Mr. Gunning.
"What! You saw nothing of England, then? And this is your first visit to Europe?" Miss Ballinger looked almost indignant as she asked this. The mother answered, quickly:
"It is our first visit, and I never should have come but for my son's health. I should dearly love to visit the cathedral towns, and all the old historical castles in England, but I guess I never shall."
"Yes you will," said her son. "I mean to go next fall, and to take you with me.... My mother has lived more than twenty-five years in a New England village, without going further than the sea-shore. She enjoys travel, but fancies she cannot leave home."
"When one has gotten a house, and help, it's difficult to go right away, even if there were no other reason," said the mother, shaking her head. "But you can go. There's no call for you to spend your vacation at home."