CHAPTER I A MYSTERIOUS DOG

itup,andotherssostifftheywouldn'tsitdown,andallsortsofseatshadtobecontrivedtosuitthepeculiaritiesoftheirspines.Thisarduoustaskaccomplished,thefondmammassteppedbacktoenjoythespectacle,which,Iassureyou,wasanimpressiveone.Belindasatwithgreatdignityatthehead,herhandsgenteellyholdingapinkcambricpocket-handkerchiefinherlap.Josephus,hercousin,tookthefoot,elegantlyarrayedinanewsuitofpurpleandgreengingham,withhisspeakingcountenancemuchobscuredbyastrawhatseveralsizestoolargeforhimwhileoneithersidesatguestsofeverysize,complexion,andcostume,producingaverygayandvariedeffect,asallweredressedwithanobledisregardoffashion. "Theywillliketoseeusgettea.Didyouforgetthebuns?"inquiredBetty,anxiously. "Nogottheminmypocket."AndBabproducedfromthatchaoticcupboardtworatherstaleandcrumblyones,savedfromlunchforthefete.Thesewerecutupandarrangedinplates,formingagracefulcirclearoundthecake,stillinitsbasket. "Macouldn'tsparemuchmilk,sowemustmixwaterwithit.Strongteaisn'tgoodforchildren,shesays."AndBabcontentedlysurveyedthegillofskim-milkwhichwastosatisfythethirstofthecompany. "Whiletheteadrawsandthecakecools,let'ssitdownandrestI'msotired!"sighedBetty,droppingdownonthedoor-stepandstretchingoutthestoutlittlelegswhichhadbeenonthegoalldayforSaturdayhaditstasksaswellasitsfun,andmuchbusinesshadprecededthisunusualpleasure.Babwentandsatbesideher,lookingidlydownthewalktowardthegate,whereafinecobwebshoneintheafternoonsun. "Masayssheisgoingoverthehouseinadayortwo,nowitiswarmanddryafterthestorm,andwemaygowithher.Youknowshewouldn'ttakeusinthefall,causewehadwhooping-cough,anditwasdampthere.Nowweshallseeallthenicethingswon'titbefun?"observedBab,afterapause. "Yes,indeed!Masaysthere'slotsofbooksinoneroom,andIcanlookat'emwhileshegoesround.MaybeI'llhavetimetoreadsome,andthenIcantellyou,"answeredBetty,whodearlylovedstories,andseldomgotanynewones. "I'dratherseetheoldspinning-wheelupgarret,andthebigpictures,andthequeerclothesinthebluechest.Itmakesmemadtohavethemallshutupthere,whenwemighthavesuchfunwiththem.I'djustliketobangthatolddoordown!"AndBabtwistedroundtogiveitathumpwithherboots."Youneedn'tlaughyouknowyou'dlikeitasmuchasme,"sheadded,twistingbackagain,ratherashamedofherimpatience. "Ididn'tlaugh." "Youdid!Don'tyousupposeIknowwhatlaughingis?" "IguessIknowIdidn't." "Youdidlaugh!Howdarstyoutellsuchafib?" "IfyousaythatagainI'lltakeBelindaandgorighthomethenwhatwillyoudo?" "I'lleatupthecake." "No,youwon't!It'smine,Masaidsoandyouareonlycompany,soyou'dbetterbehaveorIwon'thaveanypartyatall,sonow." ThisawfulthreatcalmedBab'sangeratonce,andshehastenedtointroduceasafersubje