“Take my lamb away,” Granny wailed.  “Sure, she’ll be tuk sick in those woild counthries!  You’ll have to take me wid you, Misther Westabrook—­only—­only—­” She did not finish her sentence but her eyes went anxiously to her daughter’s face.

“No, Granny, you’re not to go,” Mr. Westabrook said decisively; “You’re to stay right here with your daughter and her children.  You’re all to run the shop and live over it.  Maida’s old enough and well enough to take care of herself now.  And I think she’d better begin to take care of me as well.  Don’t you think so, Maida?”

“Of course I do, papa.  If you need me, I want to.”

“Mr. Westabrook,” Molly broke into the conversation determinedly, “did you ever give Maida a pair of Shetland ponies?”

Mr. Westabrook bent on the Robin the most amused of his smiles.

“Yes,” he said.

“And an automobile?” Tim asked.

Mr. Westabrook turned to the Bogle.  “Yes,” he said, a little puzzled.

“And did Maida’s mother have a gold brush with her initials in diamonds on it?” Rosie asked.

Mr. Westabrook roared.  “Yes,” he said.

“And have you got twelve peacocks, two of them white?” Arthur asked.

“Yes.”

“And has Maida a little theater of her own and a doll-house as big as a cottage?” Laura asked.

“Yes.”

“And did she have a May-party last year that she invited over four hundred children to?” Harold asked.

“Yes.”

“And did you give her her weight in silver dollars once?” Mabel asked.

“Yes.”

“And a family of twenty dolls?” Dorothy asked.

“Yes, you shall see all these things when we come back,” Mr. Westabrook promised.

“Then why did she run away?” Betsy asked solemnly.

Everybody laughed.

“I always said Maida was a princess in disguise,” Dicky maintained, “and now I suppose she’s going back and be a princess again.”

“Dicky was the first friend I made, papa,” Maida said, smiling at her first friend.

“But you’ll come back some time, won’t you, Maida?” Dicky begged.

“Yes, Dicky,” Maida answered, “I’ll come back.”

Yes, Maida did come back.  And what fun they all have, the Little Six in their private quarters, and the Big Six with their picnics, and their adventures with the Gypsies, is told in Maida’s Little House.

THE END

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THE CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS FOR GIRLS

Fresh, spirited stories that the modern small girl will take to her heart these well known books by a famous author have won an important place in the field of juvenile fiction.

THE FAMOUS “PATTY” BOOKS

Patty Fairfield Patty at Home Patty in the City Patty’s Summer Days Patty in Paris Patty’s Friend Patty’s Pleasure Trip Patty’s Success Patty’s Motor Car Patty’s Butterfly Days Patty’s Social Season Patty’s Suitors Patty’s Romance Patty’s Fortune Patty Blossom Patty—­Bride Patty and Azalea