dropped his paint brush and settled himself in an
easy chair. "No hand-out, no more work!"

"That's right!" agreed Bob, capturing another chair.

"Oh you terrible boys! We might as well do it ourselves if we've got
to stop every hour and feed you. There's nothing ready yet anyway."
Bet frowned on her friends.

But just at that moment Uncle Nat appeared with two very large hampers
and Bob and Phil each secured a basket.

"Now who's to say when?" laughed Bob. "Who's boss now, answer me that?"

"We are in the power of two tyrants who won't work!" said Kit
dramatically.

"Take that back, Kit Patten, or you'll not get a bite of lunch. Say
you're sorry!" teased Phil.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'll take it back!" laughed Kit.

"I'll tell you what, boys." It was Shirley's voice from the rear room,
where she was cleaning out the big closet for a dark room. "We do want
that strip painted before lunch. It won't take you more than ten
minutes. While we are fixing up this table and unpacking the baskets,
you finish that."

"Right-O, Shirley!" The boys were on their feet instantly and they
went to work without another word.

"Oh girls, doesn't it look perfectly wonderful!" exclaimed Bet, coming
into the room just as the two boys laid aside their brushes. "Now you
shall eat!"

"A crust of bread and a glass of water, I suppose!"

"You suppose nothing of the sort. You know Auntie Gibbs put it up and
therefore it has to be good!" exclaimed Kit. "But you boys won't get a
bite to eat until you've washed your faces."

"Now we rebel! This is the limit. The worm turns at last. We're
going to eat this way." And they did.

Auntie Gibbs had outdone herself on the lunch. There was fried chicken
and apple fritters, still piping hot. There was jelly and hot
biscuits. The table was loaded.

"Here Kit, open up that box of marshmallows. And put one in each cup
of cocoa."

"One! Why you stingy thing. I'll not drink it unless I have three!"
exclaimed Bob.

"All right, give the child what he wants!" Bet agreed.

"Auntie Gibbs must have thought we were going to feed all of Lynnwood.
Sending down a lunch this size!" laughed Shirley.

"But that's so much better than not having enough. Wait until we've
finished it, there won't be much left. I know what kind of an appetite
I have, and when Bob gets to work he'll eat about half of what's here."

"Aren't you going to wash that orange streak off your face, Phil