he
table with flowers. We could have tea in the garden. We've never had a
party since we've been here."

"I warn you that your guests may be boresome; however, have it your own
way," Albert's uncle said; and he went off to write the invitation to
tea to the Maidstone Antiquities. I know that is the wrong word--but
somehow we all used it whenever we spoke of them, which was often.

In a day or two Albert's uncle came in to tea with a lightly clouded
brow.

"You've let me in for a nice thing," he said. "I asked the Antiquities
to tea, and I asked casually how many we might expect. I thought we
might need at least the full dozen of the best teacups. Now the
secretary writes accepting my kind invitation--"

"Oh, good!" we cried. "And how many are coming?"

"Oh, only about sixty," was the groaning rejoinder. "Perhaps more,
should the weather be exceptionally favorable."

Though stunned at first, we presently decided that we were pleased. We
had never, never given such a big party.

The girls were allowed to help in the kitchen, where Mrs. Pettigrew made
cakes all day long without stopping. They did not let us boys be there,
though I cannot see any harm in putting your finger in a cake before it
is baked, and then licking your finger, if you are careful to put a
different finger in the cake next time. Cake before it is baked is
delicious--like a sort of cream.

Albert's uncle said he was the prey of despair. He drove in to Maidstone
one day. When we asked him where he was going, he said:

"To get my hair cut: if I keep it this length I shall certainly tear it
out by double handfuls in the extremity of my anguish every time I think
of those innumerable Antiquities."

But we found out afterwards that he really went to borrow china and
things to give the Antiquities their tea out of; though he did have his
hair cut too, because he is the soul of truth and honor.

Oswald had a very good sort of birthday, with bows and arrows as well as
other presents. I think these were meant to make up for the pistol that
was taken away after the adventure of the fox-hunting. These gave us
boys something to do between the birthday-keeping, which was on the
Saturday, and the Wednesday when the Antiquities were to come.

We did not allow the girls to play with the bows and arrows, because
they had the cakes that we were cut off from: there was little or no
unpleasantness over this.

On the Tuesday we went down to look at the Roman