What Katy did Next

Katy is a bit unsure about going to Europe but her father insists and Clover takes over the housekeeping. She and Mrs Ashe and little Amy set off to sail to England, and thence to the continent. She is thrilled to get a chance to see all the places that she has read about in novels, and she and her friends explore London, first. They go on to France, and then to Italy. There they find the US Navy is offshore and Mrs Ashe meets her brother, Ned, who is a naval officer. He is a nice man, and he learns that Katy is the cousin of Mrs Page and Lilly who are also visiting Europe. Lilly regards the trip as a way of shopping and finding a husband. Ned has been flirting a bit with Lilly, but when he meets Katy he begins to lose interest in the other girl. Katy tells him she's having a good time though she does not go dancing like other girls, being too tall... and she dresses plainly. When they go on to Rome, Amy becomes ill, with a fever. She is seriously ill and almost dies, and Katy works hard at nursing her. Ned hurries to support his sister and Lilly is very peeved. When Amy recovers, Mrs Ashe tells Katy she wants to go home. Amy's illness has frightened her and she wants to get her back to America. Katy is disappointed as she knows she probably wont get another trip to Europe, but she can see Mrs Ashes point of view. So they plan to go home, as soon as Amy is fully better. Ned takes Katy out in a gondola, and when they get back home Clover tells her sister that it must be upsetting to have had to give up the trip before they had seen all the sights. Katy blushes and runs away. Clover realises that her sister is engaged.