‘Who would live in a house, any way?’ exclaimed Philip. ‘Sniff this air, and look up at that sky!’ ‘And this is what they call “roughing it,” in Santa Barbara,’ quoth Dr. Winship. ‘Why, you youngsters have made that tent fit for the occupancy of a society belle.’ ‘Now, let’s organise for reception!’ cried Geoffrey. ‘Assemble, good people! Come over here, Aunt Truth! I will take the chair myself, since I don’t happen to see anybody who would fill it with more dignity.’ ‘I am going to mount my broncho and go out on the road to meet my beloved family,’ said Jack, sauntering up to the impromptu council-chamber. ‘How can you tell when they will arrive?’ asked Mrs. Winship. ‘I can make a pretty good guess. They’ll probably start from Tacitas as early as eight or nine o’clock, if Elsie is well. Let’s see: it’s about twenty-five miles, isn’t it, Uncle Doc? Say twenty-three to the place where they turn off the main road. Well, I’ll take a bit of lunch, ride out ten or twelve miles, hitch my horse in the shade, and wait.’ ‘Very well,’ said Geoffrey. ‘It is not usual for committees to appoint themselves, but as you are a near relative of our distinguished guests we will grant you special consideration and order you to the front. Ladies and gentlemen, passing over the slight informality of the nomination, all in favour of appointing Mr. John Howard Envoy Extraordinary please manifest it by the usual sign.’ Six persons yelled ‘Ay,’ four raised the right hand, and one stood up. ‘There seems to be a slight difference of opinion as to the usual sign. All right.—Contrary minded!’ ‘No!’ shouted Polly, at the top of her lungs. ‘It is a unanimous vote,’ said Geoffrey, crushingly, bringing down his fist as an imaginary gavel with incredible force and dignity. ‘Dr. and Mrs. Winship, will you oblige the Chair by acting as a special Reception Committee?’ ‘Certainly,’ responded the doctor, smilingly. ‘Will the Chair kindly outline the general policy of the committee?’ ‘Hm-m-m! Yes, certainly—of course. The Chair suggests that the Reception Committee—well, that they stay at home and—receive the guests,—yes, that will do very nicely. All-in-favour-and-so-forth-it-is-a-vote-and-so-ordered. Secretary will please spread a copy on the minutes.’ Gavel. ‘I rise to a point of order,’ said Jack, sagely. ‘There is no secretary and there are no minutes.’ ‘Mere form,’ said the Chair; ‘sit down; there will be minutes in a minute,—got to do some more things first; that will do, _sit down_. Will the Misses Burton and Messrs. Burton and Noble kindly act as Committee on Decoration?’ ‘Where’s the Committee on Music, and Refreshments, and Olympian Games, and all that sort of thing?’ interrupted Polly, who had not the slightest conception of parliamentary etiquette; ‘and why don’t you hurry up and put me on something?’