CHAPTER XVIII.
There was a sort of council at the breakfast table of the Foster family that morning, and Ford and Annie found themselves "voted down."
"Annie, my dear," said Mrs. Foster, in a gentle but decided way, "I'm sure your aunt Maria, if not your uncle, must feel hurt about your coming away so suddenly. If we invite Joe and Foster to visit us, it will make it all right."
"Yes!" sharply exclaimed Mr. Foster. "We must have them come. They'll behave themselves here. I'll write to their father; you write to Maria."
"They're her own boys, you know," added Mrs Foster, soothingly.
"Well, mother," said Annie, "if it must be. But I'm sure they'll make us all very uncomfortable."
"I can stand 'em for a week or so," said Ford, with the air of a man who can do or bear more than most people. "I'll get Dab Kinzer to help me entertain them."
"Excellent," said Mr. Foster, "and I hope they will be civil to him."
"To Dabney?" asked Annie.