They received a warm welcome there and were presently joined by the rest of their party from Viamede. There was some lively and animated chat in regard to letters sent and letters received, the making of the wedding dress and various other preparations for the coming ceremony, to all of which little Ned listened rather impatiently; then, as soon as a pause in the conversation gave him an opportunity, he turned to Dr. Percival, saying, "Cousin Dick, wouldn't it be right nice to have a little fun?"
"Fun, Neddie? Why, certainly, my boy; fun is often quite beneficial to the health. But how shall we manage it? have you a good joke for us?"
"No, sir," said Ned, "but you know we have two ventriloquists here and—and I like the kind of fun they make. Don't you?"
"It is certainly very amusing sometimes, and I see no objection if our friends are willing to favor us with some specimens of their skill," was the reply, accompanied by a glance first at Mr. Milburn, then at Max.
"Oh!" exclaimed Maud, "that might be a good entertainment for our wedding guests!"
"Probably," returned her husband, "but if it is to be used then it would be well not to let our servants into the secret beforehand."
"Decidedly so, I should say," said Max. "It would be better to reserve that entertainment for that time."
"But surely it would do no harm to give us a few examples of your skill to-day, when the servants are out of the room," said Maud.
"No, certainly not, if anything worth while could be thought of," said Max; "but it seems to me that it must be quite an old story with all of us here."
"Not to me, brother Max," exclaimed Ned. "And the funny things you and Cousin Ronald seem to make invisible folks say make other people laugh as well as me."