Never was there such a bustling, confused, hurried, but withal happy departure from Harding as "The Merry Hearts" made on the last day of the long winter term. The stay-at-homes--Rachel, Katherine, Nita and little Dora Carlson--were all at the station to see them off and wish them a successful journey. They left at ten o'clock in the morning, and their boat sailed the same afternoon at five. There would not be time in New York, therefore, for anything but to get themselves and their baggage across the city and safely on shipboard. Madeline and Mary, the experienced travelers of the party, were "elected" to attend to the trunks, for Miss Hale was suffering with a bad headache.