Carolyn Wells

Marjorie in Command Carolyn Wells

"WELL," said Marjorie, "I think it's too perfectly, awfully, horribly dreadful for anythingin 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 gotto 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, andthat'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 stayhome?""No, indeedy!" declared King. "You know as well as I do, the tickets are bought, andeverything is arranged for.""Even us," said Kitty, sadly."Yes; even us," repeated her brother. "And how are we arranged for? Left in charge ofLarkin! 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 threechildren were holding an indignation meeting. "I'm ashamed of you, King!""Aw, Mother, forgive me this once, and I won't ever say such a thing again till next time."Kingdon sidled up to his mother, and nestled his cheek against hers in such a cajolingway, that Mrs. Maynard smiled, and forbore further reproof just then."But, dearies all," she went on, "you mustn't take such an attitude toward Miss Larkin;she's good and kind and will look after you nicely till I return.