I will go on to Roselands with them, make a short call, as I have a little business with your grandfather, then take them home." "And we will have their mother there probably shortly after," said Mr.
Dinsmore.
So the exchange was made and the carriages drove on, taking opposite directions when they came to the cross-road.
Arrived at Roselands, Mr.Travilla found only the younger members of the family at home, the old gentleman having driven out with his daughters.
Calhoun thought however that they would return shortly, and was hospitably urgent that the visitors should all come in and rest and refresh themselves.
The younger cousins joined in the entreaty, and his own children seeming desirous to accept the invitation, Mr.Travilla permitted them to do so.
They, with Aunt Chloe and Dinah, were presently carried off to the nursery by Molly Percival and the Conly girls, while their father walked into the grounds with Calhoun and Arthur.
"Wal," whispered Dick to his cousin, drawing him aside unnoticed by the rest, who were wholly taken up with each other, "now's our time for some fun with those Ku Klux things.

They must be about done, and I reckon will be packed off out o' the house before long." Walter nodded assent; they stole unobserved from the room, flew up to their own for the key, hurried to the sewing-room of their mothers, and finding there two disguises nearly completed, sufficiently so for their purpose, arrayed themselves in them, slipped unseen down a back staircase, and dashing open the nursery door, bounded with a loud whoop, into the midst of its occupants.
Children and nurses joined in one wild shriek of terror, and made a simultaneous rush for the doors, tumbling over each other in their haste and affright.
But fortunately for them, Mr.Travilla and Calhoun had come in from the grounds, were on their way to the nursery, and entered it from the hall but a moment later than the boys did by the opposite door.
Mr.Travilla instantly seized Dick, (Calhoun doing the same by Walter), tore off his disguise, and picking up a riding-whip, lying conveniently at hand, administered a castigation that made the offender yell and roar for mercy.
"You scoundrel!" replied the gentleman, still laying on his blows, "I have scant mercy for a great strong boy who amuses himself by frightening women and helpless little children." "But you're not my father, and have no right, oh, oh, oh!" blubbered Dick, trying to dodge the blows and wrench himself free, "I'll--I'll sue you for assault and battery." "Very well, I'll give you plenty while I'm about it, and if you don't want a second dose, you will refrain from frightening my children in future." It was an exciting scene, Walter getting almost as severe handling from Calhoun, nurses and children huddling together in the farthest corner of the room, Baby Herbert screaming at the top of his voice, and the others crying and sobbing while shrinking in nervous terror from the hideous disguises lying in a heap upon the floor.
"O, take them away! take them away, the horrid things!" screamed Virginia Conly, shuddering and hiding her face.

"Wal and Dick, you wicked wretches, I don't care if they half kill you." "Papa, papa, please stop.

O, Cal, don't whip him any more.

I'm sure they'll never do it again," pleaded little Elsie amid her sobs and tears, holding Vi fast and trying to soothe and comfort her.
"There, go," said Calhoun, pushing Walter from the room, "and if ever I catch you at such a trick again, I'll give you twice as much." Dick, released by his captor with a like threat, hastened after his fellow delinquent, blubbering and muttering angrily as he went.
Calhoun gathered up the disguises, threw them into a closet, locked the door and put the key into his pocket.
"There!" said he, "they're out of sight and couldn't come after us if they were alive; and there's no life in them; and little else but linen and cotton." Baby Herbert ceased his cries and cuddled down on Aunt Chloe's shoulder; the other four ran to their father.
He encircled them all in his arms, soothing them with caresses and words of fatherly endearment.