TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 11 



chaperons anywhere, being by right of age and 

 common-sense each one a full-blown chaperon in 

 herself. 



We mapped out the united trip, the route, the ways 

 and means, as well as we could at the time, and 

 collecting our mountains of kit, took train for 

 Seattle, the Sound Port, and from there crossed to 

 Victoria. 



The auberge we put up at was like all the large 

 Canadian hotels, with the usual quaint notices in 

 the bedrooms. 



VISITORS PLACING BOOTS OUTSIDE THE DOOR DO SO 

 AT THEIR OWN RISK. 



Imagine ! This was in a really first-class hotel. 

 You must take the risk, or hie you to the basement, 

 where you climb to a majestic lofty perch, reminis- 

 cent of a dental chair, and sit enthroned the while 

 your boots are polished ! 



Cecily took the risk, because she said her boots 

 weren't wearable anyhow, and there was a chance 

 that they might return to her rejuvenated. The door 

 opened suddenly, no tapping, or " By your leave," 

 and a twangy voice said, " Ten cents ! Where's the 

 ten cents?" 



We were too astonished to do anything but pay 

 up gracefully. Better arrangements for boot-cleaning 

 in Canadian hotels need making. 



NO WASHING IN THE BEDROOMS. 



This last notice was a considerable puzzle to us at 

 first, for we wondered where else we should be per- 



