ce it.

"My father sent a message," went on King, sturdily. "He says he wants
Nobody's advice and assistance."

"What a self-reliant man!" said the voice, and then from behind a
portiere a laughing face appeared, followed by a man's active body. At
the same time, from an opposite portiere, a lady sprang out and took
Marjorie in her arms.

"Cousin Ethel!"

"Cousin Jack!"

And the children laughed in glee as they recognized Mr. and Mrs. Bryant.

"You dear things!" the lady exclaimed. "I think it's awful to startle
you so, but it's the joke of your father and your Cousin Jack. I was
afraid it would scare you. Did it?"

"Not exactly," said Marjorie, cuddling in Cousin Ethel's arms, but King
protested:

"No, indeed!" he declared. "I wasn't scared, but I felt a little queer."

"You're two Ducky Daddles!" Cousin Ethel cried, and Cousin Jack slapped
King on the shoulder and said, "You're a trump, old man!" and King felt
very grown-up and manly.

"What's it all about?" he inquired, and Mr. Bryant replied:

"Well, you see, if you've room for us here in Seacote, we're going to
stay here for a while. In fact, we've taken this shack with such an
intention."

"Oh!" cried Marjorie. "You've taken this house for the summer, and
Father knew it, and sent us over here to be surprised!"

"You've sized up the situation exactly, Mehitabel," said Cousin Jack,
who loved to call Midget by this old-fashioned name. "And now, if we
were properly invited, and very strongly urged, we _might_ be persuaded
to go home to dinner with you."

"Oh," cried Marjorie, a light breaking in upon her, "you're the dinner
guests they're expecting!"

"We sure are!" said Cousin Jack. "And as this is the first time we've
been invited out to dinner in Seacote, we're impatient to go."

So they set off for the Maynard house, and Midget led the way with
Cousin Ethel.

"When did you come?" she inquired.

"Only this morning, dear. We're not quite set to rights yet, though I
brought my own servants, and they'll soon have us all comfy."

"And how did you and Father fix up this plan?"

"He was over here this afternoon, and he and Cousin Jack planned it.
Then, as soon as you left your house, your father telephoned over here,
and we prepared to receive you in that crazy fashion. Of course, Jack
opened the door and stayed behind it. You weren't frightened, were you?"

"No, not really. But it seemed a little,--a little creepy, you know."

"Of course it