oked at the young man.

"Don't forget that Mr. Walbridge wants to use the car at six," she
said, "and you have to allow for that bad hill."

He looked a little uncomfortable. "Don't you want to speak to the
children, Tina, dear?" he asked, dropping his voice; he sat very
close to her.

"They have both spoken directly to you, you see, and children feel
that so--not being noticed. They're trying to apologize to you for
the cake."

She bit her lip and turned to Miss Honey, who arrived panting, with
the General firmly secured by the band of his overalls. An oozy
green paste dripped from his hand; one of the pink wings
intermittently concealed his injured expression.

"That's all right," she said, "don't bother about the cake, little
girl, the baby can have it."

Miss Honey sniffed.

"I guess you don't know much about babies if you think they can eat
cake like that," she answered informingly.

"Hush, now, General, don't begin to hold your breath? Do you want a
nice graham cracker! It's _so_ nice!"

"_So_ nice!" Caroline repeated mechanically, with a business-like
smile at the General, helpfully champing her teeth.

The General wavered. He allowed one sticky paw to be cleaned with a
handful of grass, but his expression was most undecided, and he was
evidently in a position to hold his breath immediately if necessary.

Miss Honey nodded to Caroline. "You've got 'em, haven't you?" she
asked.

Caroline fumbled at the interior of the nightgown and produced a
somewhat defaced brown wafer.

"General want it?" she said invitingly. There was another moment of
disheartening suspense. Brother assisted gallantly.

"They're fine, General!" he urged, "try one!" And he, too, nodded
and chewed the empty air. Instinctively the strange young gentleman
did the same.

The General looked around at them cautiously, noted the strained
interest of the circle, smiled forgivingly, and reached out for the
brown wafer. Peace was assured.

"If you could only see how ridiculous you looked," the young lady
remarked, wiping her shining pink finger nails carefully, "you'd
never do that again, Rob. Have a cake?"

He laughed, but blushed a little at her tone.

"I suppose so," he admitted. "No, thanks, I'll pass up the cake.
Isn't there enough to go 'round, perhaps?"

He examined the box.

"By George, there are exactly three left!" he said delightedly.
"Will the fairy queen hand one to her brother--the big brother--and
one to--to t