“It’s all so lovely, Marjorie,” said Hester.  “I’m so glad you let me play with you.”

“That’s all right, Hester, as long as you don’t smash things or make faces at us.”

“Oh, I never will again; truly, Marjorie.  I’m going to learn that poem of your mother’s by heart, and I know I’ll never lose my temper again, Good-bye.”

“Good-bye, Hester,” and after an affectionate kiss the two girls parted.

“Goo’-bye, Queenie Sandy,” called Tom, as they separated at the turn of the path.

“Good-bye, Tom, you old Grand Sandjandrum!” and then the Maynards ran into their own house.

“Gently, my lad and lassie; gently!” warned Mrs. Maynard, as her two young hopefuls flung themselves upon her.

“Oh, Mothery,” cried Marjorie, “we had such a good time!  And our court journal was lovely!  Want to see it?  And King fixed it up so beautifully, and Hester made such dear pictures for it!  Oh, Mother, isn’t it splendid to have so much fun?”

“Yes, dearie,” and Mrs. Maynard stroked the flushed brow of her energetic and excitable daughter.  “But when you come in from your play, you must be a little bit quieter and more ladylike.  I don’t want to think that these merry companions of yours are making you really boisterous.”

“They are, though,” said King.  “I like the Craigs and Hester Corey, but they sure are the noisy bunch!”

“Oh, King, not quite so much slang!”

“No, Mother, we won’t get gay!  We’ll try to please you every way!  But we’re feeling rather spry to-day!  So please excuse us, Mothery May!”

CHAPTER VI

TWO WELCOME GUESTS

It was Saturday afternoon.  The Maynard children had been told that guests were expected to dinner, and they must put on festival array.

And so when King and Marjorie, in white serge and white pique respectively, wandered out on to the front veranda, they found their parents and a very dressy-looking Rosamond there before them.

“Who are coming to dinner, Mother?” asked Midget.

“Ask your father, my dear.”

“Why, don’t you know, Mother?  Well, who are they, Daddy?”

“Somebody and somebody else,” replied Mr. Maynard, smiling.

“Oho, a secret!” exclaimed Midget.  “Then it must be somebody nice!  Let’s guess, King.”

“All right.  Are they kids or grown-ups, Father?”

“Grown-ups, my son.”

“Oh!” and Marjorie looked disappointed.  “Do we know them?”

“You have met them, yes.”

“Do they live at Seacote?”

“They are here for the summer.”

“Where do they live winters?” asked King.

“Under the Stars and Stripes.”

“Huh! that may mean the Philippines or Alaska!”

“It may.  Have you met many people who reside in those somewhat removed spots?”