"There's more in the kitchen," announced Nellie blandly. "There's a whole panful," added Elise. "I'm awfully glad you like them!" she exclaimed and then stopped short. "There," I said, "I knew you'd let the cat out. Elise made them!" I announced. "Delia's left--" Elise hurried to say. "And we--" I put in. "We got supper!" she finished proudly. "_You_ and Bobbie?" exclaimed Alec. "Bobbie and _you_?" gasped Tom. "Of course!" she said. "Bobbie scallopped the oysters." "Give me some more," said Malcolm. "Fling over the last biscuit," sang out Oliver. And in a flash Elise picked up the little brown ball and tossed it across the fern-dish straight as an arrow. "Good shot!" said Oliver, catching it in both hands. "Oh," piped up Ruthie, "make Malcolm stop. He took a cookie and it isn't time for them." Father just chuckled, and said, "Pretty good! pretty good!" And I tell you it was simply glorious to be natural again! "Don't eat too much," said Elise, "for dessert's coming and it's awfully good." "And chocolate layer-cake with it!" said I. "Oh, bully!" shouted Malcolm and Oliver together. "Say," asked Alec, "isn't this a good deal better than last night when Nellie's cap fell into your butter?" We all burst into sudden laughter and Nellie, who was filling the glasses, had to set down the pitcher. She was shaking with mirth. We laughed until it hurt; we simply roared; and suddenly Elise gasped, when she was able to get her breath: "Wasn't it funny? I was so frightened by you all then, I didn't know what to say about that old cap. But now--O dear!" and suddenly she turned to Ruth who sat next to her, put her arms around her and kissed her. "Oh, Ruthie," she exclaimed, "isn't it _nice_ to know them all!" And I couldn't tell whether the tears in her eyes were from laughing or crying. We stayed up late that night. "Run and get my slippers," said Father to Ruth after supper; and all the evening he lay back in his chair and watched us children while we sang college songs to Elise's ripping accompaniment; and poked fun at the twins because they'd just bought their first derbies. It was eleven-thirty when we went up to bed. "Come here a minute, Bobbie," whispered Elise to me, and I went into the guest-room. "Do unhook the back of this dress." When I had finished she said, "I'll be down at six-thirty" (we were going to get breakfast too), "and don't you dare to be late! I'm going to make the omelet. You can make the johnny-cake. Bobbie, isn't it nice Delia left?" And she kissed _me_ as well as Ruth. That night the boys all gathered in my room again. I wrapped up in the down comforter, and we were just beginning to talk when Tom appeared. "Hello," he said, smiling all over. He came in and closed the door. "Well," he asked, "what do you think of her?" And I knew he asked us because he so well knew what we did think. But just the same I wanted to tell him. I shot out my bare skinny arm at him. "Tom," I said, "I think she's a corker!"