e kids! Mother, you can just make those smarties come rip
that stitching out!"

"My son, whom are you addressing?"

"Well, Mother, I didn't mean to be disrespectful, but this is a little
more than I can stand! Wait till I get my hands on Jane!"

"You would do well to remember, Ernest, that you started this practical
joking yourself. I hope it will be a lesson to you to refrain from such
pranks in future."

"We didn't do anything but carry the bread over to the Captain without
telling them. That's where they wanted it to go."

Mrs. Morton gasped. "Did you take the whole baking?"

"Sure, wasn't that what you wanted?"

Mrs. Morton considered a moment before replying.

"Well, Ernest, you boys have brought this annoyance upon yourselves--I
think you will have to accept the consequences. I am too tired to fuss
with the stitching to-night. If you go to Jenkinses you will have to
wear your every day suits."

"But Mother!"

Mrs. Morton was already descending the stairs; she did not respond.

Ernest turned in despair to Sherm, who was examining the neat stitching
ruefully.

Sherm grinned; "Guess we might as well take our medicine. Score one for
the kids!"

"I think they might take a joke the way it was intended."

"They seem to have taken the joke and a few other things besides."

Sherm chuckled. Ernest laughed, too, a little sulkily.

"We're elected to stay at home all right, but I'll get ahead of them if
it takes a month!"

By the time the boys had rearrayed themselves and come downstairs, the
occupants of the grape arbor had vanished. They didn't return until the
enemy had departed for a ride to soothe its ruffled feelings.

The girls retired to bed early, as innocent young people should.

"Did you have a good time at Mamie's last night?" asked Chicken Little
at breakfast the next morning.

"Mamie's? We didn't go to Mamie's."

"No? I thought you intended to." This from Katy.

"You girls do get the queerest notions in your heads," observed Ernest
loftily.

Gertie giggled. The boys looked at Gertie; they hadn't suspected Gertie.
Katy also giggled, likewise Chicken Little. There is something
exceedingly contagious about giggling.

Ernest became even loftier.

"You girls seem to spend about half your time cackling--I hope you know
what you are cackling about."

"We do," retorted Chicken Little, still sweetly.

Ernest and Sherm exchanged glances. After breakfast Ernest asked his
mother if she had