e said briefly to her little band. The women ran down the
knoll and disappeared up the trail.

"Well, I'll be damned," Ralph remarked.

"Well, when you come to that, I'll be damned," Honey coincided.

"Who was it said that God did not intend them to walk?" Frank asked
slyly.

"So that's what all this bandaging of feet meant," Billy went on,
ignoring this thrust. "They were learning to walk all the time."

"You're on," Ralph said in a disgusted tone. "Foxy little devils!"

"Gee, it must have hurt!" Honey exclaimed. "They must have been torn to
ribbons at first. Some pluck, believe me!"

"I bet you dollars to doughnuts, Julia's at the bottom of it," remarked
Pete.

"No question about that," Frank commented. "Julia thinks."

"Considerable bean, too," said Honey. "Well, we've got to put a stop to
it to-night."

"Sure!" Ralph agreed. "Read the riot act the instant we get home. By the
Lord Harry, if it's necessary I'll tie my wife up!"

"I never could do that," said Pete.

"Nor I," said Frank.

"Nor I," said Honey. "But I don't think we'll have to resort to violent
measures. We've only got to appeal to their love; I can twist Lulu right
round my finger that way."

"I guess you're right," Ralph smiled. "That always fetches them."

"I don't anticipate any real trouble from this," Billy went on as though
arguing with himself. "We've got to take it at the start, though. We
can't have Angela flying after she's grown."

"Sure," said Honey, "it'll blow over in a few days. But now that they
can walk, let's offer to teach them how to dance and play tennis and
bocci and golf. And I'll tell you what--we'll lay out some gardens for
them--make them think they're beautifying the place. We might even teach
them how to put up shelves and a few little carpentering tricks like
that. That'll hold them for a while. Oh, you'll all come round to my
tactics sooner or later! Pay them compliments! Give them presents! Jolly
them along! And say, it will be fun to have some mixed doubles. Gee,
though, they'll be something fierce now they've learned how to walk.
They'll be here half the time. They'll have so many ideas how the New
Camp ought to be built and a woman is such an obstinate cuss. Asking
questions and arguing and interfering--they delay things so. We've got
to find out something harmless that'll keep them busy."

"Oh, we never can have them here--never in the world," Ralph agreed.
"But we'll fix them to-night. How about it