CHAPTER XII.
THE HURLY-BURLY Patty and Cousin Tom reached the Grand Central station in New York about six o'clock, and leaving the train, went in search of any member of the Barlow family who might be there to meet them.
They hadn't walked a dozen steps before they were confronted by three broadly smiling faces.
These faces belonged to a tall, large man with his arms full of bundles, and a boy and girl who seemed both to be about Patty's own age.
"You're Patty, I know it,--I know it!" cried the girl, and she flung her arms round Patty's neck and kissed her heartily.

"I am Bumble, and this is Bob, my twin; oh, I'm so glad to get you." By this time Bob was shaking Patty's hand vigorously, and Mr.Barlow was trying to squeeze all of his bundles into one arm, that he might have a hand free to offer his niece.
Then Patty introduced Cousin Tom, and the party all went into the waiting-room together.
"But who sent me that telegram?
and who is Helen ?" inquired Patty, as she walked along with one of her twin cousins clinging to either arm.
"Oh, that's me," said Bumble.

"My real name's Helen, but nobody ever calls me it." "Because she's like a bumble-bee," explained Bob.

"She's always tumbling about and knocking into people, and she's so buzzy and fat." "Yes," said Bumble, good-naturedly, "I am; I'd like to be slim and graceful like you, but I'm not, so I just put up with myself and have all the fun I can." Mr.Barlow gave Mr.Fleming a cordial invitation to continue his journey with Patty, and spend the night at "The Hurly-Burly," as his country-place on Long Island was called, but Cousin Tom declined, saying he had business in New York.
"But, Patty," he said, "your new-found relatives seem to be in no immediate danger of drowning." "No," said Patty, who was consumed with curiosity to know what the telegram could have meant.
"Drowning!" exclaimed Mr.Barlow, "what are you talking about?
The bathing is very safe at our place; there's really no danger at all, unless one is positively foolhardy." "No," said Patty, "but my telegram said--" "Oh, I know," broke in Bumble.

"Papa left it to me to send you word to come to-day, and I didn't get at it until it was too late to write, so I telegraphed,--and I was so afraid you wouldn't get here before the kittens were drowned, that I mentioned it to make you hurry up." "Kittens!" exclaimed Patty, laughing, "you didn't say kittens." "I know it, but the ten words gave out too soon.