Accordingly, they walked upstairs, and Elfrida, the nurse,
ushered them into a room more splendid than anything they had
ever seen. But, oh woe! where was Sarah Maud! and was it Fate
that Mrs. Bird should say, at once, "Did you lay your hats in the
hall?" Peter felt himself elected by circumstance the head of
the family, and, casting one imploring look at tongue-tied Susan,
standing next him, said huskily, "It was so very
pleasant--that--that" "That we hadn't good hats enough to go
round," put in little Susan, bravely, to help him out, and then
froze with horror that the ill-fated words had slipped off her
tongue.

However, Mrs. Bird said, pleasantly, "Of course you wouldn't wear
hats such a short distance--I forgot when I asked. Now, will you
come right in to Miss Carol's room, she is so anxious to see
you?"

Just then Sarah Maud came up the back-stairs, so radiant with joy
from her secret interview with the cook, that Peter could have
pinched her with a clear conscience, and Carol gave them a joyful
welcome. "But where is Baby Larry?" she cried, looking over
the group with searching eye. "Didn't he come?"

"Larry! Larry!" Good Gracious, where was Larry? They were all
sure that he had come in with them, for Susan remembered scolding
him for tripping over the door-mat. Uncle Jack went into
convulsions of laughter. "Are you sure there were nine of you?"
he asked, merrily.