I must see 'The Beautiful Blue Danube,' and I must hear
Johann Strauss's orchestra. They will be the only happy memories of
my fruitless journey."
CHAPTER XXIV
"WE THREE"
Nothing marred the pleasure of the trip on the _Gallia_ and young
Quincy and Tom could not have been happier than they were when the
great steamer made its way up the Mersey towards its Liverpool pier.
A few hours only in the great bustling city and then they were off to
find the house in which Tom's father was born and lived. It was near
Chester, that modernized reminder of the old Roman days, and on their
way to Fernborough Hall.
They found it uninhabited. The thatched roof was full of holes and
the interior showed the devastation that wind and water had worked.
Tall weeds filled the little garden and the general effect was dismal
indeed.
"It won't do to take Dad a picture of this old shanty," said Tom.
"Perhaps we can find a house that looks like it," Quincy suggested.
They had no difficulty in doing that, for the same architectural
plan, if the design be worthy the name, had plainly been followed in
the construction of many cottages. They found one with the roof
covered with moss and a garden full of old-fashioned flowers, and
several views were taken with Quincy's camera.
"It's cheating in one way," said Tom, "but it would break Dad's heart
to see a picture of his old home as it really is--so we'll show him
one as it ought to be.
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