"You have been gone almost three hours," he said. "Did you find the baby?"
"Yes, I found it," he replied, carelessly.
"Was it well? Shall we have the pleasure of its company to-morrow?" pursued the lieutenant.
"Yes, it was well, but it is a spoiled child. I am afraid we shall find it a source of trouble to us," replied Captain Lancaster, smiling to himself at the surprise and delight in store for De Vere to-morrow, when he should find that it was a beautiful young girl instead of a cross baby who was to be their compagnon du voyage to England.
[CHAPTER IX.]
Lancaster electrified his friend next morning by informing him that he must get their traps aboard the steamer himself, as he would not have time to attend to his own affairs, having some commissions to execute for Miss West.
"The nursing-bottles and the cans of condensed milk, you know," he said, with a mischievous laugh, and De Vere stared.
"I should think the nurse would attend to that," he said.