e, to keep them up to it;
for as soon as he had been away from any one of them a few hours that
one would begin to collapse again, and think he or she was as weak as
ever; but Joe wouldn't allow this; all day long he was here and there
among them applying the spur, bullying them into getting up and dancing,
and roaring with indignation at the idea of their being old. He made
them practise their steps, and while those who possessed crutches were
doing it, he sneaked off with the crutches and concealed them. He
wouldn't even allow them sticks, wouldn't old Joe--not he.

Old Worble's aunt Susan got quite young and skittish; and as for old
Worble's aunt Susan's mother, who was bedridden, up she had to get on
old Joe Wilkings's third visit, and had to toddle across the room. He
drilled her--kept on at it; he was there twice a day; and every time she
had to get out of bed and toddle across the room. Had to live in her
dressing-gown, and could get no peace for the life of her; but, bless
you, in ten days she had begun to believe that she had never been
bedridden at all, and that it was all fancy! And all in consequence of
that strange influence of old Joe Wilkings; that awful determination of
his.

Then there were the provisions to prepare for that picnic; and old Joe
would insist upon the old folks preparing them. He wouldn't have any
young people in it--not he. He was here, there, and everywhere,
compelling them to superintend the cooking of the joints and pies--for
he was not going to have any beef-tea or arrow-root or pap at the
picnic, but all good solid food for robust people.

Well, the eventful day came; and there were the old folks collected at
the railway station with their hampers and bags. The whole population of
younger folks had turned out to see them off; but not a single one of
them was to go, for old Joe wouldn't have anyone under the age of
sixty-five, as he said children were always a trouble at an outing. And,
what's more, his word seemed to be law, and that was the long and the
short of it.

The young people shook their heads forebodingly, and said they didn't
know what on earth would come of it all, that they didn't; and they only
hoped uncle and aunt and grandfather would come back all right!

But the train came in, and in hopped the old parties, and away they
went.

Old Joe Wilkings had his work cut out now, with a vengeance and all: for
as soon as they had got away from the younger folks who usu