"No! Can it be? This great big girl! Why, how you've grown! And yet,—yes, it is! my own Marjorie Mischief Mopsy Midget Maynard! Well, I am glad you're back where you belong!"
"So'm I! I tell you Father Maynard, it was awful hard to stay away so long."
"I know it, girlie, and I hope it won't happen again. But you know, 'into each life some rain must fall.'"
"And I did have a good time, too," went on Midge. "Isn't it funny,
Father, how you can have a good time and a bad time both at once."
"Quite comic, I should say. Now, let me get my coat off, and then we'll talk matters over."
Marjorie skipped into the living-room, and plumped herself down on the sofa. Kitty and King sat close on either side, and Rosy Posy climbed into her lap and lovingly patted her face.
The four made a pretty group, and as Mrs. Maynard came in and saw them, she said:
"Well, I'm glad my quartette is whole again; it's been broken so long."
The dinner was a celebration for fair. Aside from the delicious things to eat, everybody was so gay and glad over Marjorie's return, that all was laughter and jollity.
"How different our two families are," said Midge, thoughtfully; "here we are having such fun and frolic, and the Spencers are just having an every-day, quiet dinner."