"It is a judgment upon him," sighed their mother, wiping her eyes.
"Oh, Ford, if you only would settle down and not be so wild!"
"'Wild!' Oh, bluey!" murmured L'Enfant Terrible, who considered her brother a good deal of a tame cat.
"At least," Marian pursued, "you might carry on your flirtation in a less public manner."
"'Flirtation!'" ejaculated Lawford, with a spark of anger—and then settled back on the couch with a groan.
"My goodness me, Ford!" gasped Prue. "You're surely not in earnest?"
"I should hope not," drawled Marian.
"Oh, Ford, my boy——"
"Now, mother, don't turn on the sprinkler again," advised L'Enfant Terrible. "It will do you no good. And, anyway, I guess Ford hasn't any too bright a chance with the Grayling. You ought to have seen that handsome Judson Bane lean over her when they were walking up to Cap'n Abe's. I thought he was going to nibble her ear!"
"Cecile!"
"Horrid thing!" Prue exclaimed. "I don't know where she gets such rude manners."