The prize was a shell box that Cousin Jack had brought from Atlantic City, and Ruth dimpled with pleasure as she took it.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Bryant,” she said, prettily; “I never won a prize before, and I shall always keep it.”

“I’m glad you won it, Ruth,” said Cousin Jack, “and I want you to let it help you forget any unpleasantness of to-day.  Will you forget all that happened at Sand Court, and just remember that the Maynards and the Craigs are kind and polite children, and never mind about anybody else.  And come again some time, and play in Sand Court, won’t you?  And I’ll promise you a good and pleasant time.”

Ruth agreed gladly to all this, and then she went home, so happy that the memory of her pleasant hours made her almost forget Hester’s rudeness.

“Now, kiddies,” said Mr. Bryant, after she had gone, “I want you, too, to forget all about Hester’s performance.  Don’t talk it over, and don’t say hard things of Hester.  Just forget it, and think about something nice.”

“All right, Cousin Jack,” said Midget, “we’ll do as you say.  Come on, boys, let’s race down to the beach!”

The children ran away, and after a consultation with Mrs. Maynard, Mr. Bryant set out to make a call on Mrs. Corey.

His was not a pleasant task, but he felt it his duty to tell her frankly of Hester’s behavior, and to say that Mr. and Mrs. Maynard couldn’t allow her further to impose on their children.  Mrs. Corey didn’t resent this decree, but she was greatly pained at the necessity therefor.

“I don’t know what to do with Hester,” she said, sadly.  “The child has always been subject to those ungovernable rages.  I hope she will outgrow them.  I feel sorry for her, for it is not really her fault.  She tries to be more patient, and sometimes succeeds; then suddenly her temper breaks out at most unexpected moments.”

Mr. Bryant did not say what he thought; that Hester was a spoiled child, and that had her mother taught her how sinful such a temper was, she could have learned to control it, at least, to a degree.

But he said that the Maynards could not allow Hester to come to Sand Court any more, unless with the thorough understanding and agreement that Ruth was to be a member of the Sand Club, and that Marjorie was to be Queen again.  He said that Hester had forfeited all right to be Queen, and that as Midget practically formed the club, the right to be Queen was hers.

Mrs. Corey agreed to all this, expressed great chagrin that Hester had acted so rudely, and promised to talk to the child and try to induce a better spirit of kindness and good comradeship.

And Cousin Jack went away, feeling that he had served the little Maynards a good turn, if it had been a difficult and unpleasant duty to perform.

CHAPTER XVIII

A FINE GAME

One Saturday morning, the Maynards and the Bryants sat on the veranda of “Maynard Manor,” and every one of them was gazing at the sky.