“Tell him he’s too young and small to be of much use as an uncle,” said a voice that seemed to come from some one behind the group about the baby.
Instantly every head was turned to see who the speaker was. But he seemed to be invisible.
“Why, who said that?” exclaimed Ned.
“Oh, I know. It was you, Cousin Ronald.”
“Some people are wonderfully wise,” said Mr. Lilburn. “But really, now, did that sound like my voice?”
“Like one of them, I think,” laughed Ned. “You seem to have a good many; even more than Brother Max has.”
Ned had his tee-tee on his shoulder, and it seemed now to put in its word:
“Is that the way to talk to your old, old cousin?”
“Is that the way you talk to me, you saucy fellow?” laughed Ned, giving the tee-tee a little shake.
“There!” exclaimed Lily Travilla. “That’s the first time he’s spoken since we brought him away from Louisiana in the Dolphin.”