CHAPTER II. 



CHRONICLE OF THE TENTH ANNUAL DRIVE. 



Some of the many readers of the Transcript may- 

 remember seeing in its columns about one year ago (Dec. 

 27, 1880) a letter under the heading "Summer Travels in 

 a Phaeton," which gave an outline of nearly three 

 thousand miles' driving by two ladies in nine successive 

 summer journeys. Since then we two ladies have enjoyed 

 our tenth anniversary, and will tell you something about 

 this last journey, which lost no charms from having 

 become an old story. 



Many times during the winter and spring came the 

 query, "Shall you take your carriage journey next sum- 

 mer?" and as many times we answered "We hope so," 

 but often with a smothered doubt, as we thought of the 

 fate of hosts of "best-laid plans," and feared we would 

 not always be exceptions to such a general rule. 



As the early summer weeks passed, the obstacles multi- 

 plied; after a while circumstances began to combine in 

 our favor, and by the 15th of August the way was clear 

 for a start. A new difficulty now arose. Where could 

 we go? 



All through the year we had thought of Maine, which 

 was sufficient reason why we should not go there, for we 

 never go where we have thought of going. We have 

 driven through the valley of the Connecticut, and along 

 the coast from Newport, R. I., to Wells, Me., over the 



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