“I know it, you old goosey!  And I couldn’t live without you!  The idea!  As if any of us four Maynards could get along without any of each other!”

“I just guess we couldn’t!” exclaimed King, and then as far as the children were concerned, the subject was dropped.

CHAPTER XV

A RIDE IN MAY

At the breakfast table, the next morning, Grandma Maynard announced her intention of keeping her oldest grandchild with her as her own.

Marjorie’s mother looked up with a frightened glance at this declaration, and she turned her face appealingly toward her husband.  But when she saw the twinkle in his eye, she knew at once there was not the slightest danger of her losing her oldest daughter in this way.

But, apparently by way of a joke, Mr. Maynard saw fit to pretend to approve of his mother’s plan.

“Why, Mother,” he said, “wouldn’t that be fine!  This big house needs a young person in it, and as we have four, we ought to be able to spare one.  You’ll have grand times, Midget, living here, won’t you?”

If Marjorie had not been so overcome at the very thought of leaving her own family, she would have realized that her father was only joking; but she had been so truly afraid that her grandmother’s wishes might possibly be granted that she couldn’t realize her father’s intent.

“Oh, Father!” she cried, with a perfect wail of woe; and then, jumping from her seat at the table, she ran to her mother’s side, and flung herself into her arms, where she gave way to one of her tumultuous crying spells.

Poor little Marjorie was not greatly to blame.  She had lain awake the night before, fearing that this thing might happen, and so was in no mood to appreciate a jest on the subject.

Unwilling to have such a commotion at the breakfast table, Mrs. Maynard rose, and with her arm round the sobbing child, drew her away to an adjoining room, where she reassured her fears, and told her that her father did not at all mean what he had said.

“Now, you see, Mother,” Mr. Maynard went on, “how Midget feels about the matter.  Well, my feelings are exactly the same, only I choose a different mode of expression.  I’m sorry the child is so upset because I jokingly agreed to the plan, but she’ll get over it in a few minutes, with her mother’s help.  And as you must know, Mother, we appreciate how fine it would be for Marjorie to live here, and be the petted darling of you two dear people, but you must also know that it is just as much out of the question for us to give you one of our children as it would be to give you the whole four!”

“That’s a gift I wouldn’t care for,” said Grandma Maynard, smiling at the other three; “but I have taken a great fancy to Marjorie, and I know I could make her love me.”

At this moment Marjorie and her mother returned, both with smiling, happy faces.  Marjorie heard her grandmother’s last words, and running to her, she threw her arms around the old lady’s neck.