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They concluded to take the train from Lakewood, and not return again to Seacote. "Grandma will be getting anxious to see us," Uncle Steve declared. "I did not intend to stay as long as this when I left home." "Good-bye, old Kitsie," said Midget; "don't walk into any more red seas, and write to me often, won't you?" "Yes, I will, Midge; but you don't write very often, yourself."
"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?"
Only that here at Seacote, or all the Atlantic shore? Or all the world?" Dick considered. "I mean all the seashore in all the world," he said, at last. "Then that's silly, too," said Tom, "for how far does the seashore go? Just to the edge of the ocean, or all the way under?" "All the way under," replied Dick, solemnly. "Then you really mean all the sand in all the world!" "Yes; that's it.
After a hasty luncheon, the two men boarded at Asbury Park, the same train which Marjorie had taken at Seacote the day before. Conductor Fischer greeted them, and called his trainmen, one by one, to be questioned. "Sure!" said one of them, at last, "I saw that child, or a girl dressed as you describe, get off this train at Newark.
Give me another potato, and you open it for me, won't you, Dick?" "Yep," and Marjorie was immediately supplied with the best of the potatoes and apples, carefully prepared for her use. "Aren't there any other girls in Seacote?" she inquired. "There's Hester Corey," answered Tom; "but we don't know her very well. She isn't nice, like you are.
"And did you really take our wood?" said Marjorie, with an accusing glance, as if surprised that such pleasant-spoken boys could do such a thing. "Yes, we did. We wanted to see what sort of stuff you were made of. You know Seacote people are sort of like one big family, and we wanted to know how you'd behave about the wood. You've been fine, and now we'll cart it back where we found it.
"She's an awfully nice girl," said Marjorie to her mother, when telling of their morning's doings. "I'm so glad she's at Seacote. We're going to have lots of fun when we get back." "I'm glad, too," said Mrs. Maynard. "For you have so few acquaintances there, and Ruth is certainly a very sweet child." "I won't have her!" declared Hester.
"Do they live at Seacote?" "They are here for the summer." "Where do they live winters?" asked King. "Under the Stars and Stripes." "Huh! that may mean the Philippines or Alaska!" "It may. Have you met many people who reside in those somewhat removed spots?" "Not many," said King, "and that's a fact. Well, are they a lady and gentleman?" "They are." "Oh, I know!" cried Marjorie.
"Fine!" cried Marjorie, "every word correct! Next, Ethel, what is the Capital of the United States?" "Seacote," said Cousin Ethel, laughing. "Sure it is!" agreed King; "now that's enough jography. Next, we'll have arithmetic. Helen, how much is eighteen times forty-seven?" "I don't know," said Mrs. Maynard, helplessly. "Don't know your multiplication table! Fie, fie, my dear!
"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?"
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