“Gently, my boy, gently,” said King, as Cousin Jack scrambled to his feet, upsetting sand all over everybody.  “Now, walk along nicely and properly, don’t go too fast, and we’ll reach the pier in good time.”

“Turn out your toes,” directed Marjorie; “hold up your head, Ethel.  Don’t swing your arms, Edward.”

As a matter of fact the four grown people found it a little difficult to follow these bits of good advice they had so often given carelessly to the children, and they marched along rather stiffly.

“Try to be a little more graceful, Helen,” said King, and they all laughed, for Mrs. Maynard was really a very graceful lady, and was spoiling her gait by over-attention to Midget’s rules.  At the pier, King selected a pleasant table, and ranged his party around it.

“Bring three plates of ice cream, and four half-portions,” he directed the waiter.  And when it was brought, he calmly gave the four small pieces to his parents and the Bryants.

Cousin Jack’s face fell, for he was warm and tired, and he wanted more than a spoonful of the refreshing delicacy.  But a surreptitious glance at his watch showed him it was almost five o’clock; so he accepted his plate without a murmur.

“It’s very nice, Mother,” he said demurely, eating it by tiny bits, scraped from the edges as he had sometimes seen Marjorie do, when her share had been limited to half a plate.

“I’m glad you like it, son,” she returned; “don’t eat too fast,—­hold your spoon properly,—­take small bites of cake.”

Ruth was convulsed by this new sort of fun, and asked Marjorie if they had ever played the game before.

“No,” Cousin Jack answered for her, “and I’m jolly well sure we never will again!  I’ve had enough of being ‘a child again, just for to-night!’ And, if you please, ladies and gentlemen, it’s now five o’clock! the jig is up! the game is played out! the ball is over!  Here, waiter; bring some ice cream, please.  Full-sized plates, all around!”

The amused waiter hurried away on his errand, and Mr. and Mrs. Maynard sat up suddenly, as if relieved of a great responsibility.

“Bring some cake, too,” said Mrs. Maynard, “and a pot of tea.  Don’t you want some tea, Ethel?”

“Indeed, I do, Helen; I’m exhausted.  Jack, if you ever propose such a game again!”

“I didn’t propose it, my dear!  Now, will you look at that!  Everything always gets blamed on me!”

And now there was plenty of ice cream for everybody, and the children were allowed to have all they wanted, and they were all glad to get back to their rightful places again.

“But it was fun!” said Marjorie, and then she told Ruth all about the funny things they had done before she arrived on the scene.

Then they all walked around by Ruth’s house to take her home, and then they walked around by Bryant Bower to take the Bryants home, and then the Maynards went home themselves.