t is a beautiful name."

"I quite agree with you. Now, Molly, answer me. How many cakes can
you buy two for three cents apiece?"

Molly looked at Polly. This was a puzzler surely. "Two," she ventured
uncertainly.

Uncle Dick looked at her penetratingly. "That might be the answer
under some circumstances," he said.

This puzzled Molly more than ever and she looked at Polly for
inspiration.

Polly was laughing. "You're an old fraud," she said to her uncle.
"That is no question at all. It is nonsense, Molly. It depends
entirely upon how much money you have. If you have six cents you can
buy two cakes."

"So you can," returned Molly, seeing daylight. "I have just six cents,
so I could buy two cakes at three cents apiece."

"But you didn't answer; it was Polly who did," said her uncle.

"Then Polly takes the candy," said that person darting forward and
snatching up the candy box which she thrust into Molly's hand. "Here,
Molly, run," she cried. And run Molly did, holding fast to the box and
giving one backward glance at her uncle which showed him laughing and
shaking his fist at the two retreating figures.

"Just wait till I see that Isabel Ainslee," he called after them.
"I'll fix it for you, Molly Shelton."

But Molly had no fears, for Polly whispered; "He's only trying to
tease, Molly. Don't mind him."

_CHAPTER II_

_Uncle Dick at School_

It wanted but a week of the time when the delightful season would begin
which meant long days of freedom for the two little girls, for they
were to spend the summer in a dear little cottage by the sea. Ever
since Aunt Ada Reid bought her cottage it had been Molly's happy
experience to spend the summer there, and to enjoy the delight of
running wild. Polly was already enthusiastic but she became doubly so
as the time approached and Molly dwelt upon the joys before them.

"We can run anywhere we like and nobody cares," Molly told her, "and
there is so much to do the days never seem half long enough. Just this
week of school, and then free! free! Uncle Dick didn't do as he
threatened after all; he has not been to the school once."

"Oh, he has forgotten all about it," returned Polly.

But Uncle Dick had not forgotten, as the day's proceedings proved.
Polly was deeply interested in school matters, for she had been taught
at home always, and knew nothing of routine and system, which, even in
a small school, must be carried on. She had gone as a v