"Yer mean old thing!" screamed Gregory.
"Come get it, Greg!" Sophia darted towards her sister.
"When yer do, let me know!" jeered Maude, eluding their outstretched hands, and putting a chair between them and herself.
A short skirmish was followed by a chase around the room, until their mother interposed.
"Gracious me! What a hubbub! Maude Simpson, bring that locket to me this minute!"
"It was n't my fault at all!" whimpered Maude, taking off the chain and dropping it in her mother's lap.
"There's never no peace when you kids are in the house!" grumbled the woman, tossing aside her work, and disappearing in the next room.
"What yer done with it?" whined Gregory, as she came back with empty hands.
"I've put it where you won't find it in a hurry," she answered tartly. "Now hustle outdoors, the whole of you, and don't show your heads in here again till supper time!"
Polly drew a breath of relief, as the last Simpson vanished. She had forgotten how turbulent the children were.