“Now, for our own plans,” said Mr. Maynard.  “What shall we do next, Jack?”

“I know what I’d like,” said Cousin Ethel.

“What is it, my Angel?” asked her husband.  “You may most certainly have anything you want.”

“Well, instead of going right back to Seacote, I’d like to go to Atlantic City.”

“You would!” said Mr. Bryant.  “And would you like to go around by Chicago, and stop at San Francisco on your way home?”

“No,” said Cousin Ethel, laughing; “and I don’t think Atlantic City is so very far.  We could go there to-day, stay over to-morrow, and back to Seacote the day after.  What do you think, Jack?”

“I think your plan is great!  And I’m more than ready to carry it out, if these Maynards of ours agree to it.”

“I’d like it,” declared Marjorie.  “I’ve never been to Atlantic City.”

“But it isn’t exactly a summer place, is it?” asked Mrs. Maynard.

“Neither is Lakewood,” said Cousin Ethel.  “But it’s a cool spell just now, and I think it would be lots of fun to run down there.”

“All right,” said Mr. Maynard, “let’s run.”

And run they did.  Considering they had nine people and two motors, and several suitcases to look after, they displayed admirable expedition in getting started, and just at dusk they came upon the brilliant radiance of the lights of Atlantic City.

“This was a fine idea of yours, Ethel,” said Mrs. Maynard.  “This place looks very attractive.”

“Oh, isn’t it!” cried Marjorie.  “I think it’s grand!  Can’t we stay up late to-night, Mother?”

“You may stay up till nine o’clock, Midget, and we’ll go down and see the crowds on the Boardwalk.”

So after dinner they went down to the gay thoroughfare known as the Boardwalk.  It was crowded with merry, laughing, chattering people, and Midget danced along in an ecstasy of enjoyment.

“I never saw such a lot of people!” she exclaimed.  “Where are they all going?”

“Nowhere in particular,” said her father.  “They’re just out here to look at each other and enjoy themselves.”

“See those funny chairs, on rollers,” went on Midget.  “Oh, can’t we ride in them?  Everybody else does.”

“Of course we must,” said her father.  “It’s part of the performance.”

He engaged three rolling chairs, and as each chair held two people, he said, “How shall we divide up?”

“I’ll take Mehitabel,” said Cousin Jack, “and Hezekiah can go with my wife.  Then you two elder Maynards can use the third.  How’s that?”

This arrangement was satisfactory and they started off, a strong man pushing each chair.

“Don’t you think this is fun, Cousin Jack?” asked Marjorie, as she watched the crowds and the lights, and Old Ocean rolling big black waves up on the shore.

“Yes, Mehitabel, I think it’s gay.  There’s a certain something at this place that you never see anywhere else.”