Ruth was almost frightened, for she was unaccustomed to such scenes.  Nor were the Maynards used to them, except as they had seen Hester in her rages now and then.

Cousin Jack looked after the child a little sadly.  He was sorry that she could behave so, but he had made up his mind that Midget and King had been imposed on by Hester for a long time, and he had determined to put a stop to it.  The advent of Ruth gave a good opportunity, and he availed himself of it.

A silence fell on them all.  They watched Hester as she slowly went out of Sand Court.

But as she started across the lawn, she saw a garden hose with which a man had been sprinkling the grass.  He had gone off and left it lying on the ground, partly turned off.

Hester picked it up, turned it on to run full force, and whirling herself quickly around pointed it straight at Ruth.  In a moment the child was-soaked,—­her pretty fresh dress hung limp and wet, her curls were drenched, and the swift stream of water in her face almost knocked her over.

Marjorie sprang to Ruth’s side, and received a drenching herself.

King ran to Hester to take the hose from her, but she turned it full in his face and sent him sprawling to the ground.

The Craig boys were treated the same way, and when Mr. Bryant manoeuvred to get behind Hester and pinion her arms, she wheeled and sent the splashing stream all over him.

“You little vixen!” cried Cousin Jack, as, unheeding the water, he grasped her right arm.

But the child was wonderfully agile and like an eel she squirmed out of his grasp, and wielding her ungainly weapon with her left hand, she again sprayed the water on the two girls.

“You stop that, Hester Corey!” yelled King, as he scrambled to his feet, and in another moment he and Cousin Jack succeeded in getting the hose away from Hester.

“She ought to have it turned on her!” said Cousin Jack, looking at the little fury, now dancing up and down in her angry rage.  “But, I don’t want anything more to do with you, miss.  Go home at once, and tell your mother all that has happened.”

Glad to get away without further reprimand, Hester, her wrath spent now, walked slowly across the lawn and out of the gate.

“She’s a terror!” Cousin Jack commented; “now forget it, kiddies, and let’s go into the house and get dried out.  Are you girlies much wet?”

“Not so awfully,” replied Marjorie.  “Mostly our hair and, oh, yes, the front of Ruth’s skirt is soaked!”

“Well, we’ll build a fire in the library, and hang ourselves up to dry.  Come on, all you Sand boys and girls.”

They went in the house, and while they dried their hair and clothes, Cousin Jack told them funny stories and made no mention of Hester or of the Sand Club.

“Now we’re going to play a game,” he announced, after everybody was dry, and the fire had died away to ashes.  “Here are the things to play it with.”