Page:Cornelia Meigs--The island of Appledore.djvu/178

158 like that happen to other people, in other places. Nothing happens here at home.”

When he got up in the morning the war again seemed far away. The whole party of boys was to be taken out by their hosts of the  rival school, to be shown some of the sights  of Chicago before train time. They all stood waiting in the lobby for the automobiles to  come up, when the mail was brought in and  some one handed Billy a letter.

It was a note from his aunt who had been spending the winter in Boston.

“I am going down to Appledore Island for Easter,” it said, “although I have never been  there so early in the season before. I have a fancy to try it, and wonder whether you would  feel tempted to try it with me. I happened to hear that your vacation is to be longer than  usual, so that it would give you time to come. I admit that the invitation does not seem a very exciting one, but, if you happen to have  no other place to go, you might be glad of my  company, as I shall be so glad to have yours.”

There was a postscript added,

“If you should happen to arrive before I do, and do not find the hotel ready, you could stay  with Captain Saulsby.”