rs ahead. For if you debit
me with last month's deficiency, of course you must credit me in the
future."

"Oh, no, this rule doesn't work both ways! We'll just take all the
Ourdays that we can get whenever we can get them. But what are we going
to do after we leave Grandma's?"

"Well, if you all agree, I thought we might go over to New York and see
your other grandma."

"Go to Grandma Maynard's, too! Oh, what fun we will have!" and Marjorie
looked as if her cup of bliss were full and running over.

"And after that," said Mrs. Maynard, "if none of you object too
seriously, we thought perhaps a little run up through New England would
prove attractive."

"Mother," said King, looking at her twinkling eyes, "you planned all this
out before? It's no surprise to you!"

"Very true, King; your father and I planned it while we were on our
Southern trip. We had such a delightful outing, it seemed only fair that
we should take you children for a trip also. And your father has been
thinking for some time about buying an automobile, and as he can take the
time now, it all works in beautifully."

"Beautiful! I should think it was!" cried Marjorie; "and Mother, will we
all have motor coats and goggles, and all those queer things that they
wear in automobiles?"

"You won't have any queer things, and I doubt if you'll need goggles; but
you and Kitty shall have pretty motor coats, and pretty hoods and veils.
We'll go on Monday to buy them."

"Oh," sighed Marjorie, "it just does seem too good to be true! It's like
a fairy dream, and I 'spect I'll wake up every minute. What about
lessons, Mother?"

"We've thought of that; but as your lessons would stop the first of June
anyway, you'll only lose a few weeks, and so we're going to take you all
out of school for that time. For this year, at any rate, Maytime shall be
playtime for the Maynards."

"I'm so glad I'm a Maynard, and live in the Maynard family," said Kitty,
with a deep sigh of satisfaction.

"So'm I," declared Marjorie; "there never was such a nice family, with
such a bee-yootiful father and mother!"

And as if this were a signal for a general onslaught, the three young
Maynards made a dash for the two older Maynards, and nearly choked them
with well-meant but rather athletic embraces, which was their fashion of
expressing approval and appreciation.

CHAPTER III

A TRIAL TRIP

Owing to some unexpected delay, the automobile didn't arrive until
Wednesday.