pocket
was under water, and of course her handkerchief was wet through.

"Lend me yours, Bunny," she begged. And Bunny, who had his handkerchief
in his waist pocket, up above the wetness, wiped the clay from his
sister's nose. Then, by being careful, he managed to stand up. He helped
Sue to her feet, and the children waded to shore. The water was not more
than a few inches deep, but it was very muddy.

Bunny and Sue emptied the frogs out of the can. The little green fellows
seemed glad to hop back into the pond again. Then the two children
started for home.

"Oh my goodness me! what has happened to you?" cried their mother when
she saw them coming through the gate.

"We--we fell in," said Sue.

"No, we slid in," Bunny said.

"Oh, dear! Well, however it happened, you are perfect sights!" gasped
Mrs. Brown. "I never saw such children!"

Bunny and Sue told how it had happened--their sudden slide down the
clay-hill--and, as they had not meant to get in the mud puddle, Mrs.
Brown did not scold very much. It was an accident.

"But you must be more careful next time," she said.

"We will," promised Bunny.

He was always ready to promise.

"Anyhow," said Sue. "If we're going to grandpa's we can't go to play
near the frog pond any more."

"That's so," agreed Bunny. "Or even if we go for a ride in the big
automobile. We won't get muddy any more, Mother."

Mrs. Brown and the cook took the muddy clothes off the children, and
then Bunny and Sue each had a fine bath in the clean, white tub. Soon
they were as nice and neat as ever.

"Now don't go away from the house," said their mother. "Stay in the
yard and play. It will soon be time for your father to come home to
supper, and then----"

"Then he'll tell us about the big automobile!" cried Bunny.

"And about the secret!" said Sue.

Sue played with her dolls, while Bunny spun a musical top his Aunt Lu
had sent him from New York, and, almost before they knew it, the
children heard some one at the front gate ask:

"Well, how do you like it?"

"Oh, Daddy!" they cried, and they raced down the walk to meet their
father.

"What's it for?"

"Is it for us?"

"Are we to live in it?"

"When are we going to grandpa's farm?"

"Can we take the auto with us?"

Bunny and Sue asked so many questions of their father, and they asked
them so fast, that he could not answer them. He could only laugh. Then,
catching Sue up in one arm, and Bunny in the other, Mr. Brown ca