Mrs. Bryant was chatting away at the same time.  “Is this Marjorie?” she said.  “My, what a big girl!  When I last saw her she was only six or seven.  And Kingdon,—­almost a young man, I declare!  Kitty, I remember,—­but this little chunk of sweetness I never saw before!”

She picked up Rosy Posy in her arms, and the little one smiled and patted her cheek, for Mrs. Bryant had a taking way with children, and they always loved her.

Marjorie couldn’t help thinking what a contrast this greeting was to their reception at Grandma Maynard’s, but she also realized that the Bryants were much younger people, and apparently were very fond of children.

Altogether, it was a most satisfactory welcome, and the Maynards trooped into the house, with that comfortable feeling always bestowed by a warm reception.

“Now, I’ll take you girlies upstairs,” Mrs. Bryant chatted on, taking Marjorie and Kitty each by a hand; “and I’ll brush your hair and wash your paddies, and fix you up all nice for supper.”

Marjorie couldn’t help laughing at this.

“Don’t let us make you too much trouble, Mrs. Bryant,” she said.  “You know we’re quite big girls, and we tie each other’s ribbons.”

“Bless me!  Is that so?  But you musn’t call me Mrs. Bryant!  I’m Cousin Ethel, and Mr. Bryant is Cousin Jack, and if you call us anything more formal than that, we’ll feel terribly offended!”

And then Cousin Ethel bustled away to look after her other guests, leaving Midget and Kitty to take care of themselves.

She had given them a delightful room, large and sunshiny, with a sort of a tower bay-window on one corner.  The carpet was sprinkled with little rosebuds, and the wall-paper matched it.  Some of the chairs and the couch were covered with chintz, and that, too, had little rosebuds all over it.  The curtains at the windows were of frilled white muslin, and the dressing table had all sorts of dainty and pretty appointments.  There were twin brass beds, and on the foot of each was a fluffy, rolled coverlet, with more pink rosebuds.

“What a darling room!” exclaimed Marjorie, as she looked around.  “Oh, Kit, isn’t it pretty?”

“Lovely!” agreed Kitty.  “And Cousin Ethel is a darling, too.  I love her already!  We’re going to have a beautiful time here, Mops.”

“Yes, indeedy!  I wish we were going to stay all summer.  Kit, this is a perfect May room, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s so flowery and bright.  What are we going to wear, Mops?”

“White dresses, I s’pose.  Our trunk is here, you see.”

“And let’s wear our Dresden sashes and ribbons,—­then we’ll match this rosebuddy room.”

And so when Cousin Ethel returned to her young guests, she found them all spick and span, in their dainty white frocks and pretty ribbons.

“Bless your sweet hearts!” she cried, kissing them both.  “You look like Spring Beauties!  Come on downstairs with me.”