"It's from Aunt Kate, Uncle Dennis' wife," Mercedes slowly retorted. "She is going to Europe for something, and wants to send the boys out here to us."
"Williard and Theodore?"
"Yes."
"But how can they, with papa hurt and mamma gone?"
"She says that they will pay good board and she knows mamma will be glad enough to get the money, seeing that papa's still unable to work."
Tabitha's face darkened. "It's an imposition!" she exploded wrathfully.
"I sh'd say so!" agreed Susanne. "They are dreadful noisy boys. We had 'em here once before, and Aunt Kate got awful mad 'cause papa licked 'em when they touched a match to the old shed to see how the people on the desert put out fires."
"She said they never should come again," added Inez, "but I guess she's forgot."
"How old are they?" ventured Gloriana.
"Williard's between me and Susie," Mercedes answered, "and Theodore's between Susie and the twins."