Sometimes the children sat about on the sand in their bathing suits and found the hot sun so pleasant after their baths that they over-stayed their time and one of the mothers had to come out and ring a huge old-fashioned dinner bell to remind them that it was time to come in and get dressed. However, this morning they cut their water sports short and were dressed before lunch was ready.
"I see that nothing is to prevent our trip to town this afternoon," remarked Mrs. Larue, smiling, as they sat down at the table. "All I ask is, please do not expect me to ride on the merry-go-round."
"We'll watch and let the youngsters do the wild things," Mrs. Williamson said, ladling out the delicious clam chowder she had made for them. "I dare say the carnival will be too full of motion for us."
"Oh, but, Mother, they have movies!" said Margy eagerly. "You like moving pictures, Mother! You know you do!"
"Yes, I do," Mrs. Williamson admitted. "Well, we can see them and then find a quiet place to sit while you investigate the rest of the carnival."
There was a neat little bus that ran from one end of the beach to the other and through the town. This passed Meeker Cottage on a side street, and the mothers voted to ride to the carnival grounds. As soon as the lunch dishes were out of the way, they started, and when Artie saw the bus coming toward them with a huge sign fastened on the front, reading "To The Carnival," he almost ran to meet it. Or so Fred declared.
"Here it is!" cried Artie, when they came in sight of the tents. "They have a band! I hear it!"
"A band does certainly affect Artie," Mrs. Larue declared. "We'll have to watch him or he might follow it as the children did the Pied Piper."
Artie scarcely heard what they were saying. His eyes were shining and his feet were tapping merrily and he looked so happy and so thoroughly alive that every one who passed him turned to smile.
"Let's go to movies first," suggested Margy. "Mother likes them."