ine brother of hers has got some wonderfully big thing
up his sleeve; and so we're invited to go along and see the fairy
story through, are we, Hugh? How long do we have to wait before
making a start for the Hosmer cottage? I wonder if Matilda'll care
if we keep company with them on their picnic? First thing she'll
do will be to run back and add some more to the basket, because she
knows how boys can eat like a house afire. I don't see how I can
stand it waiting nearly a whole hour; but then there are a hundred
other questions I'm burning to ask you."

Time passed while they sat there in Thad's room and talked. Hugh was
compelled to relate every little incident over again, and amidst all
sorts of comments on the part of the other. Finally Hugh said it was
now a quarter to ten, and that they might as well be starting out,
which they proceeded to do most eagerly indeed.

CHAPTER XVIII

WHEN THE WIZARD WAVED HIS WAND

"Don't forget for a minute," cautioned Hugh, as they started on their
way toward the humble cottage home of Matilda and her husband, "that
Brother Lu asked us to act quite natural when we came along."

"I'm on," responded Thad, though it was only with the greatest difficulty
that he seemed able to repress the glow in his eyes that told of
secret joy. "He means by that, you are to ask Matilda whether she's
ready for another batch of sewing stuff that both of our mothers
have ready, which I happen to know is the case. And then I suppose
Brother Lu will ask us to join them on their little holiday outing,
since he's made himself master of ceremonies for today. Say, will a
hungry fish snap at an angleworm when it's dangled just in front of
its nose? Well, we'll thank Brother Lu for being so kind, and as we
have nothing else to do we'll accept with celerity, eh, Hugh? Is that
the programme?"

So talking and laughing, they walked on. Soon they arrived at the
cottage, where they found the three inmates just getting ready to
start forth. Matilda had a covered basket already packed. She
welcomed the two lads with a happy smile. Birthdays came and went
in her life just as they did with other people, only as a rule there
was scant reason to celebrate them, save as they marked the fact that
Matilda was "getting old."

But somehow the presence of cheery Brother Lu seemed to have started
something. Possibly, although Matilda could not dream of what was
coming, some intuition caused her to fe