"If there isn't, Dick, you might commandeer one of Chicken Little & Co.'s pigs. They are fat enough to sustain you for a few hours," replied Dr. Morton, glancing at the girls.
Dick was quite overcome when he caught sight of the triumphal arch and the flag.
"Support me, Chicken Little, this reception is so, ah, flattering it makes me faint with emotion. Young ladies, Dr. Morton," he placed one hand over his heart and bowed low to each, "and esteemed----" he hesitated, not seeing anyone but Jilly to include in this last salutation, "esteemed fellows," he bowed once more, including trees, bushes, and any other objects handy, with a courtly sweep of the arm, "it is with deepest gratitude I----"
"Heart-felt sounds better, Dick," interrupted Alice, laughing.
Dick gazed at her reproachfully. "'Tis always the way when I try to soar, my wife seizes my kite by the tail and pulls it down with a jerk. I thought lovely woman was supposed to inspire a man to higher----"
Dick was interrupted in the middle of his complaining by Mrs. Morton's coming out to greet them.
The next few days fairly flew by. Each member of both families had thought of a variety of things that Alice and Dick must do before they went home. Unfortunately, there were only twenty-four hours in a day and it seemed necessary to spend part of these in sleep.
"We ought to have at least one more hunting party," declared Chicken Little.
"We ought--I shall feel the lack of that hunting party for years to come, Jane. There will be a vacuum in my inner consciousness. I shall wake up in the middle of the night sighing for that hunting party. But you see to-day is Wednesday, and we must leave Friday, and Frank and I have sworn by every fish in the creek to take to-morrow off for a fishing trip. Chicken Little, there is only one way out of the dilemma. Painful as it will be for you, you'll have to invite us to come again."
The worst of it was that Frank firmly declined to take a single petticoat along. Neither Marian nor Alice could move him from this ungallant resolve.
"My dear wife," Frank replied, "I love you, but I don't love to have you round when I'm fishing."
"Never mind," said Marian with decision, "if we can't go we won't get them any lunch. Will we, Mother Morton?"