“Well, keep it there,” said the voice. “Now run off to your play, all o’ ye, and leave me in peace to nurse my head and get rid of the ache.”
“Yes,” said Ned, “but first I’m going to look for Cousin Ronald and Brother Max, because I’d like to know which has been trying to cheat us and pretending to scold.”
He straightened himself and looked earnestly along the veranda as he spoke. Evidently the company there had been listening to what was going on and enjoying the sport, Cousin Ronald and Max among them. Captain Raymond was there, too, standing at the top of the steps and looking as if he had been having a share of the fun.
“You are having a good deal of fun, aren’t you, my young friends?” he asked. “To hear and see it all makes me rather hungry for a share of it. Would you object to my joining you?”
“Oh, no! No, indeed!” cried several young voices. “Please come; we’ll be glad to have you.”
So the captain stepped down and joined them.
That started the older people. Not only Mr. Lilburn and Max hastened to join the players, but Chester and Lucilla, Dr. Harold and Grace, Dr. Herbert and Dr. Arthur Conly.
They all seemed to renew their youth, entering heartily into the sport, to the great delight of the children, the two ventriloquists increasing it by the use of their peculiar talent. Sometimes the players were surprised and puzzled by voices, unlike any of theirs, calling from different quarters, but presently the more knowing ones would give a merry shout that would open the eyes of the others to the fact that it was only a ventriloquial trick for their amusement.
When they grew tired of “I spy” other games were tried with success, and it was only as the time for going home drew near that they ceased their sport and rejoined the older members of the party upon the veranda.