“I’m so sorry, David,” Milly almost sobbed, “but Mammy Betty’s daughter has run away and got married and she has gone to see about it, and the trained nurse can’t come.  There has been an awful wreck up the road and all the doctors in town have gone and taken all the nurses with them.  She didn’t consider the babies serious, so she just had some one telephone at the last minute that she had gone.  I can’t go; but please make Billy go with you!  There is no use—­” and she turned to Billy Bob who stood by in pathetically gorgeous array, but firm in his intention not to desert the home craft.

“We just can’t make it, Dave, old man,” he said manfully, as he caught his tearful wife’s outstretched hand in his.  “Go on before we both cry!”

“Go on, nothing—­with Milly looking like a lovely pink apple-blossom!  You’ve got to come.  I wouldn’t dare face Phoebe without you.  It’s the whole thing to her to have you there.  It’s been so long since you’ve gladded with the crowd once and it’s her birthday and—­” David’s voice trailed off into a perfect wail.

“But what can we do?” faltered Milly, dissolved at the mention of the new frock.  “We certainly can’t leave them and we can’t take them and—­”

“Glory, that’s the idea, let’s take the whole bunch!” exclaimed David with radiant countenance.  “I ought to have invited them in the first place.  Come on and let’s begin to bundle!” and he made a dive in the direction of the door of the nursery.

“Oh, no, indeed we can’t!” gasped Milly while Billy Bob stood stricken, unable to utter a word.

“I’ll show you whether we will or not,” answered David.  “Catch me losing a chance like this to ring one on Phoebe for several reasons.  Hurry up!” and as he spoke he had lifted little Mistake from his cot and was dextrously winding him in his blanket.  The youngster opened his big dewy eyes and chuckled at the sight of his side partner, David Kildare.

“That’s all right, he’s all for his Uncle Davie.  Here, you take him Billy Bob and I’ll help Milly roll up the twins.  She can bring down Crimie while I bring them,” and as he spoke he began a rapid swathing of the two limp little bodies from the white crib.

“But, David,” gasped Milly, “it is impossible!  They are not dressed—­they will take cold—­”

“The limousine is as hot as smoke—­can’t hurt ’em—­plenty of blankets,” with which he thrust the nodding young Crimie into her arms and lifted carefully the large bundle which contained both twins in his own.  “Go on!” he commanded the paralyzed pair.  “I will pull the door to with my free foot.”  And he actually forced the helpless parents of the four to embark with him on this most unusual of adventures.

When they were all seated in the car Milly looked at Billy Bob and burst into a gale of hysterical laughter.  But Billy Bob’s spunk was up by this time and he was all on the side of the resourceful David.