"But, David," gasped Milly, "it is _impossible_! They are not

dressed--they will take cold--"

"The limousine is as hot as smoke--can't hurt 'em--plenty of blankets,"

with which he thrust the nodding young Crimie into her arms and lifted

carefully the large bundle which contained both twins in his own. "Go

on!" he commanded the paralyzed pair. "I will pull the door to with my

free foot." And he actually forced the helpless parents of the four to

embark with him on this most unusual of adventures.

When they were all seated in the car Milly looked at Billy Bob and burst

into a gale of hysterical laughter. But Billy Bob's spunk was up by this

time and he was all on the side of the resourceful David.

"Why not?" he asked brazenly. "Nine-tenths of the people in the world

take the kids with them on all the frolics they get, why not we? _They_

know it's all right, _they_ haven't objected." And indeed there had not

been a single chirp from any of the swathings. Big Brother was the only

one awake and he was, as usual, entranced at the very sight of his Uncle

David, who held the twins with practised skill on his knees.

"Now," he said jubilantly, "don't anybody warn Phoebe and I'm going to

put them on the big divan with her presents. You'll see something crash,

I'm thinking."

And it was worth it all when Phoebe did see her unexpected guests. Big

Brother, divested of his blanket and clad in a pink Teddy Bear garment,

sat bolt upright in the center of the divan, and Crimie lay snuggled

against him with his thumb in his mouth and entranced eyes on the

brilliant chandelier. The twins were nestled contentedly down in the

corner together like two little kittens in a basket. Before them knelt

Polly with one finger clasped by the one whose golden fuzz declared her

to be Little Sister, while Caroline Darrah leaned over Big Brother who

was fingering a string of sapphires that fell from her neck, with obvious

delight. The rest of the party stood in an admiring and uproarious

circle.

"Why," exclaimed Phoebe in blank astonishment, "why David Kildare!"

"You said you wanted your most intimate friends to-night, Phoebe, and

here they are," he answered with pride in every tone of his voice.

"Oh, dearie," said Milly as she clasped Phoebe's hand, "we couldn't come

without them--everything happened wrong. I know it's awful and I ought to

take them right back now and--"

"David Kildare," said Phoebe as she divined in an instant the whole

situation, "I love--I love you for doing it," and she sank on her knees

by Caroline. Mistake let go the chain and bobbed forward to bestow a

moist kiss on this, his friend of long standing; and as he chuckled and

snuggled his little nose under her white chin Phoebe's echo was a sigh of

such absolute rapture that the whole circle shouted with glee.




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