They went flying down the drive to a chorus of good-byes from the servants, who assembled to see them off, and who would take care of the house in their absence.

As they whizzed across the street, and paused for a moment in front of Delight’s house, Delight and Miss Hart came running down to wave a good-bye, and their hands were full of flowers which they flung into the automobile all over its merry occupants.

“Good-bye, good-bye!” they called, for the Maynards had not stopped, but merely slowed down a little, and were now again speeding on their way.  Marjorie and King stood up in their places, and waved handkerchiefs and flowers, and shouted good-bye until they could no longer be seen or heard.

“Now we are really started,” said Marjorie, settling back into her seat with an air of great satisfaction.  “Having all these flowers thrown at us seems like a wedding trip or something.  There’s not nearly so much wind to-day, and then, with this hood, my hair doesn’t blow about so, anyway.  Oh, Father, I’m awful hungry!  Can’t we stop at the grocer’s and get some ginger-snaps and apples?”

“You’ve just had your breakfast, but I suppose automobile kiddies must have something to nibble on!” So a stop was made at the grocer’s, and a supply of ginger-snaps and apples was added to their other luggage.

Mr. Hiller, the grocer, was very much interested in the motor party, and came out himself to wish them good speed.

“I don’t know what Rockwell will do without the Maynard tribe,” he said; “you youngsters keep things lively around town.  And you’re going to be away a month, you say.  Well, well!”

“Perhaps it’s a good thing to give the town a little rest, Mr. Hiller,” said Mr. Maynard, laughing.

“No, sir; no, sir; them children of yours never does anything vicious.  Full of mischief they may be, full of fun they may be, but never really naughty.  No, no!”

Mr. Maynard expressed a laughing appreciation of these compliments, and then they started once more.

“Now we’re really off,” said King, “we won’t have to stop again.”

“Oh, I think most of the fun is stopping,” said Marjorie; “I love to stop and then go on again.  Perhaps we can get out and pick some wild flowers or wade in a brook.”

“Not to-day,” said her father, “but some days you may do that to your heart’s content.  The whole trip is going to be just one long picnic, and we’re going to get all the fun out of it we possibly can.”

“I think it’s delicious,” said Kitty, in her quiet way; “I think it’s fun enough just to glide along like this, with the blue sky shining all over us, and the trees waving their boughs at us, and even the fences jig-jigging along at our side.”

“You’re so poetical, Kitty,” said Marjorie; “I love the blue sky and the green trees too, but just now I want to see a red apple and a brown ginger-snap!”

“Midget, I believe you could eat at any time,” said her mother, laughing.