CHAPTER II WHERE THEY FOUND HIS MASTER

Neitherspokeforaminute,astonishmentbeingtoogreatforwordsthen,asbyoneimpulse,bothstoleupandtouchedthecakewithatimidfinger,quitepreparedtoseeitflyawayinsomemysteriousandstartlingmanner.Itremainedsittingtranquillyinthebasket,however,andthechildrendrewalongbreathofrelief,for,thoughtheydidnotbelieveinfairies,thelateperformancesdidseemratherlikewitchcraft. "Thedogdidn'teatit!" "Sallydidn'ttakeit!" "Howdoyouknow?" "Sheneverwouldhaveputitback." "Whodid?" "Can'ttell,butIforgive'em." "Whatshallwedonow?"askedBetty,feelingasifitwouldbeverydifficulttosettledowntoaquiettea-partyaftersuchunusualexcitement. "Eatthatcakeupjustasfastaseverwecan,"andBabdividedthecontesteddelicacywithonechopofthebigknife,boundtomakesureofherownshareatallevents. Itdidnottakelong,fortheywasheditdownwithsipsofmilk,andateasfastaspossible,glancingroundallthewhiletoseeifthequeerdogwascomingagain. "There!nowI'dliketoseeanyonetakemycakeaway,"saidBab,defiantlycrunchingherhalfofthepie-crustB. "Ormineeither,"coughedBetty,chokingoveraraisinthatwouldn'tgodowninahurry. "Wemightaswellclearup,andplaytherehadbeenanearthquake,"suggestedBab,feelingthatsomesuchconvulsionofNaturewasneededtoexplainsatisfactorilythedemoralizedconditionofherfamily. "Thatwillbesplendid.MypoorLindawasknockedrightoveronhernose.Darlin'child,cometoyourmotherandbefixed,"purredBetty,liftingthefallenidolfromagroveofchickweed,andtenderlybrushingthedirtfromBelinda'sheroicallysmilingface. "She'llhavecroupto-nightassureastheworld.We'dbettermakeupsomesquillsoutofthissugarandwater,"saidBab,whodearlylovedtodosethedolliesallround. "P'r'apsshewill,butyouneedn'tbegintosneezeyetawhile.Icansneezeformyownchildren,thankyou,ma'am,"returnedBetty,sharply,forherusuallyamiablespiritha