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Maynard; "you children are quite old enough to know that you must sit still in a boat. Especially a round-bottomed boat, and a narrow one at that." "It was Molly's fault more than Midget's," put in Kitty, who didn't want her adored sister to be blamed more than she deserved. "Well, never mind that," said Marjorie, generously ignoring Molly's part in the disaster.
"I'd be glad to go with you and stay till to-morrow," she said; "but first I want to own up that I didn't 'zactly trust you, but now I do." "Wal, wal, thet shows a nice sperrit! Now, you come along o' me, an' don't try to talk nor nothin'. Jest come along." He took Midget's hand, and they went down the steps, and along the street for a block or two, to a sort of livery stable.
"Did you come away without mother's permission? Naughty! Naughty!" said Mrs. Spencer, playfully shaking her finger at Marjorie. Midget's eyes opened wide. "Of course, I shouldn't have come," she said, "if I hadn't known she would be willing." She resented Mrs.
Marjorie, too, was dark-haired, dark-eyed, and rosy-cheeked; while Delight was of lovely blonde type, and her pale blue robe suited her, as Midget's crimson cashmere set off her own vivid coloring. The ice fairly broken, the little girls forgot their shyness, and acquaintance progressed rapidly. "Have you always lived in New York?" asked Midget.
"Oh, Mother," said Marjorie, "you have the others, but I haven't anybody! How shall I get along without you?" Marjorie's voice was trembling, and though Mrs. Maynard was heart-broken she forced herself to be cheerful for Midget's sake. "Well, dearie," she said, "we must make the best of it. I'll telephone you three times a day, or at least, some of us will, and I'll write you letters."
All aflutter with delightful anticipation, the young lady climbed up on the gate and scrambled into the saddle when Bryce swung the pony broadside to the gate. Then he adjusted the stirrups to fit her, passed a hair rope from Midget's little hackamore to the pommel of Moses' saddle, mounted the pinto, and proceeded with his first adventure as a riding-master.
"Midget Maynard," she said, "what do you mean? Of course you were my best friend here, but when I'm out there don't you s'pose I've got to have somebody else to play with and to tell secrets to?" Somehow this idea made Midget's heart lighter. It justified her in taking Delight as a chum in Gladys' place. "Yes, of course," she responded. "Our letters don't seem to amount to much, do they, Glad?"
You run away to Nurse, darling; you were good Baby to take care of Midget, but, now, run away and leave her to Mother." Mrs. Maynard brought some cool water and bathed the flushed little face, and then sprinkling some violet water on a handkerchief she laid it lightly across Midget's brow. After a time the child woke, and found her mother sitting beside her. "Oh, Mother!" she cried; "oh, Mother!"
There was look of expectancy on the midget's face. A word of joy broke from her lips. Polly laid the beautiful doll in her arms, smiling to see the rapture in the big blue eyes. Then a wee shadow crept over. "Mine? All mine?" questioned the tiny one. "Yes, all yours," was the sure answer. "Is n't it a darling?"
"I guess we couldn't let old Mopsy go out of this bunch!" exclaimed King, as with a clever agility he pulled off both Midget's hair-ribbons at once. This called for retaliation, and in a flash, Marjorie tweaked off his necktie.