Mr. Starbird went up to the table where Mrs. Lyman sat, pretending to be looking for the shears, but really to get a peep at the lady's eyes. At any rate, he did not go away till he had made her look at him, and then they both smiled, and Mrs. Lyman said, in a very low voice,—
"Francis, you have kept up the joke long enough."
Frank nodded and went back to the settle.
"James," said he, "you are the wise one of the family; I wish you would tell me how you account for my dream."
"Can't account for it," said James, shaking his head; "don't pretend to."
"Well, then, if you can't," returned Mr. Starbird, looking very innocent, "perhaps you can tell me what day of the month it is?"
There was a general uproar then.
"Have you been making fools of us, Frank Starbird?" cried James and Rachel, seizing him, one by the hair, the other by the ears.
"April Fools! April Fools!" exclaimed all the children together,—all except Dorcas.
"It's the best fool I ever heard of," said William Parlin; "but how did you do it, sir?"