“Why not?” he asked brazenly.  “Nine-tenths of the people in the world take the kids with them on all the frolics they get, why not we? They know it’s all right, they haven’t objected.”  And indeed there had not been a single chirp from any of the swathings.  Big Brother was the only one awake and he was, as usual, entranced at the very sight of his Uncle David, who held the twins with practised skill on his knees.

“Now,” he said jubilantly, “don’t anybody warn Phoebe and I’m going to put them on the big divan with her presents.  You’ll see something crash, I’m thinking.”

And it was worth it all when Phoebe did see her unexpected guests.  Big Brother, divested of his blanket and clad in a pink Teddy Bear garment, sat bolt upright in the center of the divan, and Crimie lay snuggled against him with his thumb in his mouth and entranced eyes on the brilliant chandelier.  The twins were nestled contentedly down in the corner together like two little kittens in a basket.  Before them knelt Polly with one finger clasped by the one whose golden fuzz declared her to be Little Sister, while Caroline Darrah leaned over Big Brother who was fingering a string of sapphires that fell from her neck, with obvious delight.  The rest of the party stood in an admiring and uproarious circle.

“Why,” exclaimed Phoebe in blank astonishment, “why David Kildare!”

“You said you wanted your most intimate friends to-night, Phoebe, and here they are,” he answered with pride in every tone of his voice.

“Oh, dearie,” said Milly as she clasped Phoebe’s hand, “we couldn’t come without them—­everything happened wrong.  I know it’s awful and I ought to take them right back now and—­”

“David Kildare,” said Phoebe as she divined in an instant the whole situation, “I love—­I love you for doing it,” and she sank on her knees by Caroline.  Mistake let go the chain and bobbed forward to bestow a moist kiss on this, his friend of long standing; and as he chuckled and snuggled his little nose under her white chin Phoebe’s echo was a sigh of such absolute rapture that the whole circle shouted with glee.

And late as it was dinner was announced three times before the host or the guests could be persuaded to think of food.  And not until David’s bed was made ready for the little guests did they begin to make their way into the dining-room.  It was Andrew who finally insisted on carrying the babes away and tucking them in—­only Caroline went with him with Little Sister in her arms and laid her gently on the pillow.  She refused to lift her eyes to him for so much as a half-second until he drew her chair from the table for her; but then her shy glance was deep with innocent tenderness.

“Now,” said the major as they settled laughingly into their places, “everybody’s glass high to the silent guests!” And they drank his toast with enthusiasm.

“And,” added David Kildare as he set down his glass, “they needn’t be ‘silent guests’ unless it suits them.  When they want to rough-house they know Uncle David’s is the place to come to do it in.”