Some hours later the crowd again a.s.sembled on deck, everything in readiness to land. The beautiful city towered, majestic and imposing, before them, and the lofty buildings, with the sun full upon them, stood out clear and gleaming against the gray-blue of the sky.
The girls, who had been standing close together, drew a sigh and turned to each other with tear-wet eyes and bursting hearts.
"Well, girls, have you got any luggage?" came in Phil"s matter-of-fact voice. "If you have, hand it over."
"I"ll take Lucile"s," said Jack, and, as she suited the action to the word, he cried joyfully, "We"re home, Lucile; we"re home!"
And Mr. Payton, regarding the little group with loving eyes, added, very reverently, "Thank G.o.d!"