She thought of the terrible story of Ginevra, of the bride who was shut up in her trunk, and forever! She was shut up on hers, and knew not when she should be released! She had acted once in the ballad of the "Mistletoe Bough." She had been one of the "guests,"who had sung "Oh, the Mistletoe Bough," and had looked up at it, and she had seen at the side-scenes how the bride had laughingly stepped into the trunk.But the trunk then was only a make-believe of some boards in front of a sofa, and this was a stern reality.
It would be late now before her family would reach her grandfather's.Perhaps they would decide to spend the night.
Perhaps they would fancy she was coming by express.She gave another tremendous effort to move the trunk toward the door.
In vain.All was still.
Meanwhile, Mrs.Peterkin sat some time at the door, wondering why Elizabeth Eliza did not come down.Mr.Peterkin had started on with Solomon John and all the little boys.Agamemnon had packed the things into the carriage,-a basket of lunch, a change of shoes for Mr.Peterkin, some extra wraps,-everything Mrs.
Peterkin could think of, for the family comfort.Still Elizabeth Eliza did not come."I think she must have walked on with your father," she said, at last; "you had better get in." Agamemnon now got in."I should think she would have mentioned it," she continued; "but we may as well start on, and pick her up!"They started off."I hope Elizabeth Eliza thought to speak to Amanda, but we must ask her when we come up with her."But they did not come up with Elizabeth Eliza.At the turn beyond the village, they found an envelope struck up in an inviting manner against a tree.In this way, they had agreed to leave missives for each other as they passed on.This note informed them that the walking party was going to take the short cut across the meadows, and would still be in front of them.They saw the party at last, just beyond the short cut; but Mr.Peterkin was explaining the character of the oak-tree to his children as they stood around a large specimen.
"I suppose he is telling them that it is some kind of a 'Quercus,'"said Agamemnon, thoughtfully.
Mrs.Peterkin thought Mr.Peterkin would scarcely use such an expression, but she could see nothing of Elizabeth Eliza.Some of the party, however, were behind the tree, some were in front, and Elizabeth Eliza might be behind the tree.They were too far off to be shouted at.Mrs.Peterkin was calmed, and went on to the stopping-lace agreed upon, which they reached before long.This had been appointed near Farmer Gordon's barn, that there might be somebody at hand whom they knew, in case there should be any difficulty in untying the horse.The plan had been that Mrs.
Peterkin should always sit in the carriage, while the others should take turns for walking; and Agamemnon tied the horse to a fence, and left her comfortably arranged with her knitting.Indeed, she had risen so early to prepare for the alphabetical breakfast, and had since been so tired with preparations, that she was quite sleepy, and would not object to a nape in the shade, by the soothing sound of the buzzing of the flies.But she called Agamemnon back, as he started off for his solitary walk, with a perplexing question:
"Suppose the rest all should arrive, how could they now be accommodated in the carryall? It would be too much for the horse! Why had Elizabeth Eliza gone with the rest without counting up? Of course, they must have expected that she-Mrs.
Peterkin-would walk on to the next stopping-place!"She decided there was no way but for her to walk on.When the rest passed her, they might make a change.So she put up knitting cheerfully.It was a little joggly in the carriage, she had already found, for the horse was restless from the flies, and she did not like being left alone.
She walked on then with Agamemnon.It was very pleasant at first, but the sun became hot, and it was not long before she was fatigued.When they reached a hay-field, she proposed going in to rest upon one of the hay-cocks.The largest and most shady was at the other end of the field, and they were seated there when the carryall passed them in the road.Mrs.Peterkin waved parasol and hat, and the party in the carryall returned their greetings, but they were too far apart to hear each other.
Mrs.Peterkin and Agamemnon slowly resumed their walk.
"Well, we shall find Elizabeth Eliza in the carryall," she said, "and that will explain all."But it took them an hour or two to reach the carryall, with frequent stoppings for rest, and when they reached it, no one was in it.Anote was pinned up in the vehicle to say they had all walked on; it was "prime fun."In this way the parties continued to dodge each other, for Mrs.
Peterkin felt that she must walk on from the next station, and the carryall missed her again while she and Agamemnon stopped in a house to rest, and for a glass of water.
She reached the carryall to find again that no one was in it.The party had passed on for the last station, where it had been decided all should meet at the foot of grandfather's hill, that they might all arrive at the house together.
Mrs.Peterkin and Agamemnon looked out eagerly for the party all the way, as Elizabeth Eliza must be tired by this time; but Mrs.
Peterkin's last walk had been so slow, that the other party was far in advance and reached the stopping-place before them.The little boys were all rowed out on the stone fence, awaiting them, full of delight at having reached grandfather's.Mr.
Peterkin came forward to meet them, and, at the same moment with Mrs.Peterkin, exclaimed: "Where is Elizabeth Eliza?" Each party looked eagerly at the other; no Elizabeth Eliza was to be seen.Where was she? What was to be done? Was she left behind?
Mrs.Peterkin was convinced she must have somehow got to grandfather's.They hurried up the hill.Grandfather and all the family came out to greet them, for they had been seen approaching.There was great questioning, but no Elizabeth Eliza!
