“Our uncle! What uncle? Oh, Mary, do tell us quick.” And the door was flung open, revealing four children in various stages of undressing.
“His name is Maitland,” said Mary, “and he’s a youngish gentleman. I never saw him before.”
“It must be Uncle Stephen; Mamma’s brother from California,” said Dulcie. “I think he’s the only uncle we’ve got. Oh, isn’t it exciting? Hurry, children, do please hurry!”
“I can’t go down with my boots unbuttoned,” complained Daisy. “O dear! where’s the shoe buttoner? Fasten your dress, Molly, and take those curlers off Maud’s hair.”
“I’ll help you,” said Mary, good-naturedly. “I’m glad you’ve got an uncle to look after you. You’d better tell him a few things before he goes away again.”
“What sort of things?” inquired Daisy, innocently.
Mary laughed.
“Oh, I guess you know as well as I do,” she said, evasively. “If you don’t, so much the better.”
“Did our uncle ask for Grandma?” Dulcie wanted to know.
“Oh, yes, and she’s in the parlor with him now. So’s Miss Kate.”