"Oh, girls!" she exclaimed, "don't you know that those children are going to be delighted when this fat little dumpling comes rolling out of the hamper?
They will all grab for him at once, and Mary will be so tickled she will squeal.
She always does when she is excited, and it is _so_ funny.

I wish I could hear her do it this blessed minute.

Somehow I can hardly wait to see them all now, although I don't want to leave Locust one bit.

I have had _such_ a good time!" Mom Beck came out just then to tell them that dinner was waiting, and Lloyd hurried them through the back hall again, although she herself ran to the front door and looked out, before she took her seat at the table.
It was a merry meal, for Papa Jack told his best stories, and Cousin Carl, as they all called Mr.Forbes now, recalled his funniest jokes to make the children forget how near they had come to the parting hour.

And when the dessert was brought on they sang a duet they had learned when school-boys together, at which every one laughed until the tears stood in their eyes.
While they lingered at the table, Alec and Walker and Mom Beck, and all the servants on the place who could lend a hand, were turning the lawn into fairy-land.