Carolyn Wells

Marjorie In Command Carolyn Wells

"WELL," said Marjorie, "I think it's too perfectly, awfully, horribly dreadful for anything in all this world!" "I do, too," agreed King. "It's a calamity, and a catastrophe and a cat, -a cata- cataclysm!" "Of course it is," said Kitty, who was philosophical. "But as it's all settled, and we've got to live through it, we may as well make the best of it." "The best of it!" grumbled King; "there isn't any best! It's all outrageously horrid, and that's all there is about it! I don't see how we can stand it." "S'pose we say we just won't stand it," suggested Marjorie; "do you think they'd stay home?" "No, indeedy!" declared King. "You know as well as I do, the tickets are bought, and everything is arranged for." "Even us," said Kitty, sadly. "Yes; even us," repeated her brother. "And how are we arranged for? Left in charge of Larkin! Old Loony Larkin!" "Hush, King, that's disrespectful," said Marjorie, laughing in spite of herself. "Well, she is old; and she is Larkin; and I think she's loony!" "But you mustn't say so, if you do," persisted Marjorie. "Indeed you mustn't," said Mrs. Maynard, coming into the living room where the three children were holding an indignation meeting. "I'm ashamed of you, King!"