"Yes," rejoined the boy. "I wished to have a seat on the banquette, so that I could see; but the seats were all engaged before my father went to the office; so we are going in the coupé; but I don't like it half so well."
"Nor I," said the girl.
"Where is your father?" asked Rollo.
"He is gone," replied the boy, "with mother to buy something at a shop a little way from here. Lottie and I were tired, and so we preferred to stay here. But they are coming back pretty soon."
"Are you all going to ride in the coupé?" said Rollo; "because, there will not be room. There is only room for three in the coupé."
"I know it," said Lottie; "but then, as two of us are children, father thought that we could get along. Father had a plan for getting Adolphus a seat in the interior; but he was not willing to go there, because, he said, he could not see."
Just at this moment the father and mother of Adolphus and Lottie came up the archway into the court yard where the diligence was standing. The horses had been brought out some minutes before and were now nearly harnessed. The gentleman seemed to be quite in a hurry as he came up; and, seeing that the horses were nearly ready, he said,—
"Now, children, get in and take your places as soon as possible."
So they all went to the coach, and the gentleman attempted to open the door leading to the coupé. It was fastened.
"Conductor," said he, speaking very eagerly to the conductor, who was standing near, "open this door!"