"Pirates!" burst out the Imp.

"This dream river of ours," I went on, quelling him with a glance,
"has carried us to you, which is very right and proper. Dream
rivers always should, more especially when you sit "''Mid sunshine
throned, and all alone.'"

"But I'm not all alone, Dick."

"No; I'm here," said a voice, and Dorothy appeared with her small
and fluffy kitten under her arm as usual. "We are waiting for Mr.
Selwyn, you know. We've waited, oh! a long, long time, but he
hasn't come, and Auntie says he's a beast, and - "

"Dorothy!" exclaimed Lisbeth, frowning.

"Yes, you did, Auntie," sad Dorothy , nodding her head. "I heard
you when Louise ran up a tree and I had to coax her back; and I
have a clean frock on, too, and Louise will be oh so disappointed!"
Here she kissed the fluffy kitten on the nose. "So he is a beast;
don't you think so, Uncle Dick?"

"Such delay is highly reprehensible," I nodded.

"I'm glad you've come, Uncle Dick, and so is Auntie. She was
hoping - "

"That will do, Dorothy!" Lisbeth interrupted.