“Oh!” cried Marjorie.  “You’ve taken this house for the summer, and Father knew it, and sent us over here to be surprised!”

“You’ve sized up the situation exactly, Mehitabel,” said Cousin Jack, who loved to call Midget by this old-fashioned name.  “And now, if we were properly invited, and very strongly urged, we might be persuaded to go home to dinner with you.”

“Oh,” cried Marjorie, a light breaking in upon her, “you’re the dinner guests they’re expecting!”

“We sure are!” said Cousin Jack.  “And as this is the first time we’ve been invited out to dinner in Seacote, we’re impatient to go.”

So they set off for the Maynard house, and Midget led the way with Cousin Ethel.

“When did you come?” she inquired.

“Only this morning, dear.  We’re not quite set to rights yet, though I brought my own servants, and they’ll soon have us all comfy.”

“And how did you and Father fix up this plan?”

“He was over here this afternoon, and he and Cousin Jack planned it.  Then, as soon as you left your house, your father telephoned over here, and we prepared to receive you in that crazy fashion.  Of course, Jack opened the door and stayed behind it.  You weren’t frightened, were you?”

“No, not really.  But it seemed a little,—­a little creepy, you know.”

“Of course it did!” cried Cousin Jack from behind them.  “But that house is so overhung with creepers it makes you feel creepy anyway.  I’m going to call it Creeper Castle.”

“Oh, don’t!” said Marjorie.  “It sounds horrid!  Makes you think of caterpillars and things like that!”

“So it does!  Well, Mehitabel, you name it for us.  I can’t live in a house without a name.”

“I’d call it Bryant Bower.  That sounds flowery and pretty.”

“Just the ticket!  You’re a genius for names!  Bryant Bower it is.  What’s the name of your house,—­Maynard Mansion?”

“Maynard Manor is prettier,” suggested Cousin Ethel.

“So it is!  Maynard Manor goes!  I don’t know anybody with prettier manners than the Maynards, especially the younger generation of them,” and though Cousin Jack spoke laughingly, there was an earnest undertone in his voice that greatly pleased King and Marjorie.

“Hooray!” cried that hilarious gentleman, as they reached the Maynards’ veranda.  “Hello, Ed. How d’ye do, Helen?  Here we are!  We’re returning your youngsters right side up with care.  Why, look who’s here!” and catching up Rosy Posy, he tossed her high in the air, to the little girl’s great delight.

Dinner was a festive occasion indeed, and afterward they all sat on the wide veranda and listened to the roar of the waves.

“This is a restful place,” said Cousin Ethel, as she leaned back comfortably in her wicker rocker.

“So it is,” agreed her husband, “but, if you ask me, I think it’s too restful.  I like a place with some racket to it, don’t you, Hezekiah?”