“When the boys come back from the pond, I expect they will be ravenous, too,” sighed the good lady. “Do you think, Madge, that there will be enough ham and tongue sandwiches for supper? I am sure of the cream and cake—thanks to that good old woman (though I hope your father won’t hear me say it). But that is to be served after the fireworks. They will want something hearty at suppertime—and goodness me, Madge! It is five o’clock now. Those boys should be back from their swim.”
As for Mr. Steele, he was immensely satisfied with the celebration of the day so far. To tell the truth, he had very little to do with the work of getting ready for the orphans’ entertainment. Aside from the explosion of the fireworks in the cart, the occasion had been a perfectly “safe and sane” celebration of a holiday that he usually looked forward to with no little dread.
Before anybody really began to worry over their delay, the boys came into view. They had had a refreshing swim and announced the state of their appetites the moment they joined the girls at the big tent.
“Yes, yes,” said Madge, “we know all about that, Bobbie dear. But his little tootie-wootsums must wait till hims gets his bib put on, an’ let sister see if his hannies is nice and clean. Can’t sit down to eat if hims a dirty boy,” and she rumpled her big brother’s hair, while he looked foolish enough over her “baby talk.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Madge,” said Helen, briskly. “Of course they are hungry—— But where’s the rest of them?”
“The rest of what?” demanded Busy Izzy. “I guess we’re all here.”
“Say! you must be hungry,” chuckled Heavy. “Did you eat the kids?”
“What kids?” snapped Tom, in sudden alarm.
“The fresh airs, of course. The ‘terrible twins’ and their mates. My goodness!” cried Ann Hicks, “you didn’t forget and leave them down there at the pond, did you?”
The boys looked at each other for a moment. “What’s the joke?” Bobbins finally drawled.