"Yes, yes; but you see we make journeys on shore. We all went to Moscow, and some of us down the Volga to Kazan."
"How delightful! I wish I was a boy! If I were I would be a sailor, and join your ship. It must be elegant?"
"O yes—yes; very," replied De Forrest, glancing at his shipmate, who could hardly keep from laughing.
"I think I should like it so well, that I wouldn't go on shore. It is so stupid to be dragged through all these old palaces, and churches, and tombs, though I like to look at the pictures."
De Forrest was fascinated by the beauty and sprightliness of Miss Gurney. Her innocence and simplicity imparted a candor to her speech which pleased him, and, fatigued as he was, he was sorry to lose sight of her when the party retired to their rooms. Then her image went with him, and followed him into his dreams. He met her again in the morning, and the runaways were invited to accompany the party to Villenoy, and to see the sights of the capital of Poland. In a few days they left for Bromberg, and though Beckwith protested, De Forrest insisted upon accompanying them. Then he could not resist his inclination to go with the party to Königsberg, where Mr. Kinnaird desired to see a friend; but he hoped the squadron would not come there. It did not go to Königsberg, because the water was not deep enough, but it anchored at Pillau, the port of the city, twenty-six miles distant. While the runaways were dining with their new friends at the Hôtel de Prusse, feeling perfectly secure because they had heard nothing of the squadron, the officers and students marched through the room to another, where dinner had been prepared for them.
"O, I am so delighted to see them!" exclaimed Julia. "How glad you must be, Mr. De Forrest!"
"Yes—yes—very glad," stammered the purser. "Will you excuse us for a few moments? I want to speak to some of them."
"O, certainly! How delighted you must be!" chattered the pretty Miss Gurney.
Before they had time to retire, the principal confronted them, and prevented their escape.
