Uncle John took a package from his pocket.

“I stopped on my way and purchased two veils.  Men don’t know much about such things, and when the clerk showed me a box full of them, I didn’t know which to choose.  I looked at a pink and a blue one, and because I’d no idea which you’d like best, I brought them both to you, Rose.  You can loan one to Polly.  You’ll need your hats tied on securely on your ride to the shore.”

“Oh, see the lovely, lovely veils!” cried Rose, when, having opened the parcel, the soft blue and pink gauze lay before them.

“No one could have found prettier ones,” said Rose.  “On, thank you for bringing them to me.  I like to have gifts, but, oh, I love to know folks care to give them to me.  That’s best of all.”

“Dear little girl, you are right about that,” Uncle John said heartily, “and now run and get your wraps, and we’ll spin away to the shore.”

“Oh, Polly, Princess Polly, Princess Polly!  Isn’t he dear?” whispered Rose, when together they climbed the stairway to help Nora to choose what they would need for the visit.

“Oh, Nora!” cried Rose, “why didn’t you tell me he wasn’t old at all?”

“Sure, now,” replied Nora, “if I’d said what I thought, I’d have said he looked like a noble lord, so he does.”

“And I’m to go, too, Nora!” cried Polly, “and wasn’t he kind to seem just as glad to have me as he was to have Rose.  Of course, he wasn’t truly, but he was some glad, and I wish he was my Uncle John, too.”

“Well, now,” said Nora, “do ye just play he’s yer own uncle, and go along with Rose, and himself ter have a fine visit.”

Nora found it something of a task to pack the two suit cases, because the two little girls were so excited that they could hardly keep still long enough to choose what they wished to carry.

“Put my pink dress in, Nora, and Polly, you take your pink one, too,” said Rose, “and, oh, come over here to the window and see how lovely the automobile looks from here!”

Away they ran to the window.

“It’s a beauty,” said Polly, “and I’d rather ride in a red one than—­”

“Miss Polly, will I be puttin’ yer pink frock in?” questioned Nora, “sure, he’s waitin’, an’ we ought ter hurry the packin’!”

“Well we ought to hurry!” agreed Polly, “and, Rose, didn’t his eyes just twinkle when he asked us to come!”

“And to think I ever believed he was old!” said Rose.

“Hold still till I tie yer hats on with a veil.  Now, which will ye wear, Miss Rose?”

“Pink, because it’s rose color,” cried Rose.

“No, no!” said Polly; “the blue is prettier!”

At last they were ready.  They ran down the stairway, Nora following with the suit cases, and laughing because they hopped on every other stair.

“All ready?  Why, what charming little ladies I have to take home!  Those veils are really all right, and hugely becoming.  Would you like to start now, or wait an hour or two?” As he asked the question his brown eyes were dancing.