"You naughty youngsters," chided their sister gently. "You ought to be in bed this minute, everyone of you."
"We's going right off," cried Gladys breathlessly. "On'y we wants to be kissed first."
Helen stooped down to fulfill their clamorous demand.
"Now, be off," she laughed, straightening herself up and shaking a mildly reproachful finger at them, "and don't forget to go in and say good-night to Auntie," and then she and Nathalie proceeded leisurely on their way.
They found the vine-covered porch of the parsonage quite overflowing with people. Wendell Churchill and Farr stepped hastily forward, and, after an interchange of cordial greetings, found seats for them.
"How late you are," called Nan, from somewhere in the background. "I thought you were not coming."
Helen left apologies and explanations to Nathalie, and turned to answer an inquiry from Farr in regard to Jean.
"I am sorry to say she is deep in a book," she said, looking up at him with a smile, "and we could not persuade her to leave it. However, she promised to follow us shortly."
"And does Miss Jean always keep her promises?" Farr asked lightly.
"I think she does," Helen rejoined, meeting his eyes for an instant.