“What is going on to-night?” queried Prudence.

“Nothing is going on.  That’s why he is coming.  It’s too cold to meander around outdoors these nights, and so we shall have to amuse ourselves inside as best we can.”

The whole family came to attention at this.

“Oh, goody!” cried Connie.  “Let’s make taffy, shall we, Fairy?”

“Certainly not.  This isn’t a children’s party.  You’ll go to bed at eight o’clock as usual, Connie mine.—­Now, we must have something to eat.  The question is, What shall it be?”

“Yes,” agreed Carol with enthusiasm,—­Carol was always enthusiastic on the subject of something to eat.  “Yes, indeed, that is the question.  What shall we have?”

“You will likely have pleasant dreams, Carol,” was the cool retort.  “Babbie did not invite himself to spend the evening with you, I believe.”

“Do you mean to suggest,” demanded Lark with withering scorn, “that it is your intention to shut yourself up alone with this—­this creature, excluding the rest of us?”

“Yes, and have refreshments for just you two?” cried Carol.

[Illustration:  “Yes, and have refreshments for just you two?”]

“That is my intention most certainly.  The twins and Connie will not put in appearance at all.  Prue will serve the refreshments, and will eat with us.  Babbie and I shall spend the evening in the front room.”

“The front room?” echoed Prudence.  “This room is much cheerier, and more homelike.”

“Well, Babbie isn’t a member of the family, you know,” said Fairy.

“You are doing your best,” sniffed Carol.

“Now, you girls must understand right off, that things are different here from what they were at Exminster.  When boys came to the house there they came to have a good time with the whole family.  But here it is very different.  I’ve been looking around, and I’ve got on to the system.  The proper thing is to receive callers privately, without the family en masse sitting by and superintending.  That’s etiquette, you know.  And one must always serve refreshments.  More etiquette.  Men are such greedy animals, they do not care to go places where the eats aren’t forthcoming.”

“Men!  Are you referring to this Babbling creature now?” interposed Carol.

“Ouch!” said Lark.

“But won’t it be rather—­poky—­just sitting in the front room by yourselves all evening?” asked Prudence doubtfully, ignoring the offended twins.

“Oh, I dare say it will.  But it’s the proper thing to do,” said Fairy complacently.

“What are you going to do all evening?” Connie wanted to know.  “Just sit and look at each other and admire yourselves?”

The twins thought this very clever of Connie, so they both said “Ouch!” approvingly.

“Why, no, baby dear,” said Fairy good-naturedly.  “We shall talk.  Feast our souls with a flow of reason, you know.  We shall converse.  We shall hold pleasant intercourse.”