“Suppose we make this a sort of gala night, and stop here at this shop and have some ice cream.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Kitty, ecstatically, “do let’s do that!”
The others were far from unwilling, so the quartette were soon seated round a white marble-topped table.
“I do think,” said Kitty, as she viewed lovingly the pink and white heap that was placed in front of her, “I do think we’re having the loveliest time!”
“Better than the Jinks Club?” asked Miss Larkin, with a twinkle in her eye.
“Well, different,” said Kitty. “I feel as if I could talk every-day talk, you know, and not think how it’s going to sound.”
“I do hate to have to think how things sound,” admitted King, honestly.
“But I s’pose,” said Midget, thoughtfully, “we ought to talk always so they sound all right anyway.”
“That sentence might be improved upon,” said Miss Larkin, laughing; “but I want you to have a specially good time this evening, so never mind about any frills on your conversation. I’ve been thinking, children, that I’ve rather neglected you. I ought to do more to entertain and amuse you, now that your dear parents are away.”
The three Maynards looked at her in amazement. They had thought that Miss Larkin was very indulgent usually; and though sometimes she was unexpectedly strict or stern, yet in a moment she would forget what she had said, and give them an extra treat of some sort. The truth was, Miss Larkin was decidedly inconsistent. All unused to the management of children, she was now over-indulgent and now over-exacting. She had no knowledge of the uniformly mild and gentle, yet positive government which Mr. and Mrs. Maynard exercised in their home.