"That bird you are eating looks good," said the same voice; "couldn't you spare me a leg?" "Oh, yes," laughed Ned, "if you'll come and get it. But one of these little legs wouldn't be much more than a bite for you." "Well, a bite would be better than no breakfast at all; and somebody might give me one of those nice-looking rolls." "I'm sure of it if you'll come to the table and show yourself," replied Ned. "Here I am then," said the voice close at his side. "Oh, are you?" returned Ned. "Well, help yourself. You can have anything you choose to take." "Now, Ned, do you call that polite?" laughed Lucilla. "As you invited him to the table you surely ought to help him to what he has asked for." At that Ned looked scrutinizingly at Cousin Ronald's plate, then at his brother's, and seeing that both were well filled remarked, "I see he's well helped already and oughtn't to be asking for more till he gets that eaten up." "Oh, you know too much, young man," laughed Max. "It isn't worth while for Cousin Ronald and me to waste our talents upon you." "Oh, yes, it is, Brother Max," said the little fellow, "for it's fun, even though I do know it's one or the other or both of you." "Oh, Cousin Ronald," exclaimed Elsie, "can't you make some fun at the wedding, as you did when Cousin Betty was married? I don't remember much of it myself, but I've heard other folks tell about it." "Why not ask Max instead of me?" queried Mr. Lilburn. "Oh!" cried the little girl, "I'd like to have both of you do it. It's more fun with two than with only one." "And it might be well to consult cousins Maud and Dick about it," suggested Grandma Elsie. "You can do so to-day, as we are all invited to take lunch at Torriswood." "Are we? oh, that's nice!" exclaimed Elsie, smiling brightly. "You will let us go, papa, won't you?" "Yes; I expect to take you there." "And if we all go Cousin Ronald and Max might make some fun for us there. I guess the Torriswood folks would like it," remarked Ned insinuatingly. "But might not you grow tired--having so much of it?" asked Max. "No, indeed!" cried the little fellow. "It's too much fun for anybody to get tired of it." "Any little chap like you, perhaps," remarked the strange voice from the distant corner. "Pooh! I'm not so very little now," returned Ned. "Not too little to talk a good deal," laughed Grandpa Dinsmore. "This is a lovely morning," remarked Dr. Harold, "the roads are in fine condition too, and I think the distance to Torriswood is not too great to make a very pleasant walk for those of us who are young and strong." "And there are riding horses and conveyances in plenty for any who prefer to use them," added his mother. Evelyn, Lucilla, and Max all expressed their desire to try the walk, and Grace said, "I should like to try it too;" but both her father and Dr. Harold put a veto upon that, saying she was not strong enough, so must be content to ride.