"I know it; it's a sort of a bother to write letters. But I love to get
them."

"Well, the summer will be over pretty soon," returned Kitty, "and then
we'll all be back in Rockwell."

The Maynard children were philosophical, and so they parted with cheery
good-byes, and the train steamed away with Uncle Steve and Kitty waving
from the window.

"Now, for our own plans," said Mr. Maynard. "What shall we do next,
Jack?"

"I know what I'd like," said Cousin Ethel.

"What is it, my Angel?" asked her husband. "You may most certainly have
anything you want."

"Well, instead of going right back to Seacote, I'd like to go to
Atlantic City."

"You would!" said Mr. Bryant. "And would you like to go around by
Chicago, and stop at San Francisco on your way home?"

"No," said Cousin Ethel, laughing; "and I don't think Atlantic City is
so very far. We could go there to-day, stay over to-morrow, and back to
Seacote the day after. What do you think, Jack?"

"I think your plan is great! And I'm more than ready to carry it out, if
these Maynards of ours agree to it."

"I'd like it," declared Marjorie. "I've never been to Atlantic City."

"But it isn't exactly a summer place, is it?" asked Mrs. Maynard.

"Neither is Lakewood," said Cousin Ethel. "But it's a cool spell just
now, and I think it would be lots of fun to run down there."

"All right," said Mr. Maynard, "let's run."

And run they did. Considering they had nine people and two motors, and
several suitcases to look after, they displayed admirable expedition in
getting started, and just at dusk they came upon the brilliant radiance
of the lights of Atlantic City.

"This was a fine idea of yours, Ethel," said Mrs. Maynard. "This place
looks very attractive."

"Oh, isn't it!" cried Marjorie. "I think it's grand! Can't we stay up
late to-night, Mother?"

"You may stay up till nine o'clock, Midget, and we'll go down and see
the crowds on the Boardwalk."

So after dinner they went down to the gay thoroughfare known as the
Boardwalk. It was crowded with merry, laughing, chattering people, and
Midget danced along in an ecstasy of enjoyment.

"I never saw such a lot of people!" she exclaimed. "Where are they all
going?"

"Nowhere in particular," said her father. "They're just out here to look
at each other and enjoy themselves."

"See those funny chairs, on rollers," went on Midget. "Oh, can't we ride
in them? Everybody else does."

"Of course we must," said