“That’s a good girl.  Marjorie, I believe you’ll make a fine woman, and I wish I could have the training of you.  How would you like to come and live with me?”

“That’s funny, Grandma,” said Midget, laughing, “after all you’ve said about your not wanting us children in the house.”

“I know it; and I can’t stand the whole lot of you at once, but I really do believe, Marjorie, that I’ll take you and bring you up.  I shall speak to your father and mother about it at once.”

“Oh, Grandma, don’t!” And Marjorie clasped her hands, with a look of horror on her face. “Don’t ask me to leave Mother and Father!  And King, and Kitty, and the baby!  Why, Grandma, I couldn’t do it, any more than I could fly!”

“Why not?  You don’t realize all I could do for you.  We live much more handsomely than you do at home, and I would give you everything you wanted.”

“But, Grandma, all those things wouldn’t make any difference if I had to leave my dear people!  Why, do you really s’pose I’d even think of such a thing!  Why, I couldn’t live without my own father and mother!  I love you and Grandpa, and since you’ve been so kind and forgiving this morning, I love you a lot more than I did; but, my goodness, gracious, sakes, I’d never live with anybody but my own special particular bunch of Maynards!”

“It’s a question you can’t decide for yourself, child.  I shall speak to your parents about it, and they will appreciate better than you do the advantages it would mean for you to follow out my plan.  Now I will give you the present I promised you, and I think it will be this very same silver powder-box.  You probably do not use powder, but it is a pretty ornament to set on your dressing table, and I want you to let it remind you of your promise not to play practical jokes.”

“Oh, thank you, Grandma,” said Marjorie, as she took the pretty trinket; “I’m glad to have it, because it is so pretty.  And I will remember my promise, and somehow I feel sure I’m going to keep it.”

“I think you will, dear, and now you may run away for the present, as I am going to be busy.”

Marjorie found King and Kitty in the billiard room, waiting for her.

“Well, you are the limit!” exclaimed King.  “How did you ever dare cut up that trick, Mops?  You got out of it pretty lucky, but I trembled in my boots at first.  I don’t see how you dared play a joke on Grandma Maynard of all people!”

“Why didn’t you tell us about it?” asked Kitty.  “Oh, did she give you that lovely powder-box?”

“Yes,” laughed Marjorie, “as a reward for being naughty!  And she’s going to reward me further.  What do you think?  She’s going to take me to live with her!”

“What!” cried King and Kitty, in the same breath.  And then King grasped Marjorie by the arm.  “You shan’t go!” he cried.  “I won’t let you!”

“I won’t either!” cried Kitty, grasping her other arm.  “Why, Mops, we simply couldn’t live without you!”