“Where is Maxie?” queried Ned, almost ready to cry. “Papa tell Maxie tum eat his breakfus.”
“Maxie isn’t there, son,” said the captain pleasantly. “It was Cousin Ronald talking in Maxie’s voice.”
“Papa,” said little Elsie, “maybe Maxie is there, hiding behind the door.”
“Do you think so?” returned her father with a smile. “Well, you may go and look, if you wish, and if you find him tell him papa says for him to come immediately to his breakfast.”
At that Elsie made haste to get down from her chair, and ran to the door calling, “Maxie, Maxie, papa says, come right to your breakfus dis minute.”
Not finding Max at the door, she ran on down the hall, out upon the veranda, looking searchingly from side to side, back again and through the different rooms, calling, “Max, Max, where are you? Papa says, come to your breakfus.”
Then on into the breakfast-room she came again, saying with a bewildered look, “Papa, I can’t find Max. Where did he go?”
“Don’t you remember that papa told you he was not there, daughter?” returned the captain pleasantly. “It was Cousin Ronald who spoke, making his voice sound like Max’s.”
“Oh, I wish it was Maxie, ’cause I love him and want to see him,” returned the baby girl, tears springing to her eyes.