CHAPTER IX A HAPPY TEA

astbehavedwithwonderfulpropriety,sittinguponhiscushioninanattitudeofsuchdignitythatitseemedalmostalibertytoofferhimfood.Adishofthicksandwicheshadbeenprovidedforhisespecialrefreshmentand,asBenfromtimetotimelaidoneonhisplate,heaffectedentireunconsciousnessofittillthewordwasgiven,whenitvanishedatonegulp,andSanchoagainappearedabsorbedindeepthought. But,havingoncetastedofthispleasingdelicacy,itwasveryhardtorepresshislongingformoreand,inspiteofallhisefforts,hisnosewouldwork,hiseyekeptakeenwatchuponthatparticulardish,andhistailquiveredwithexcitementasitlaylikeatrainovertheredcushion.Atlast,amomentcamewhentemptationprovedtoostrongforhim.BenwaslisteningtosomethingMissCeliasaidatartlayunguardeduponhisplateSanchlookedatThornywhowaswatchinghimThornynodded,Sanchgaveonewink,boltedthetart,andthengazedpensivelyupatasparrowswingingonatwigoverhead. Theslynessoftherascaltickledtheboysomuchthathepushedbackhishat,clappedhishands,andburstoutlaughingashehadnotdonebeforeforweeks.Everyonelookedroundsurprised,andSanchoregardedthemwithamildlyinquiringair,asifhesaid,"Whythisunseemlymirth,myfriends?" Thornyforgotbothsulksandshynessafterthat,andsuddenlybegantotalk.Benwasflatteredbyhisinterestinthedeardog,andopenedoutsodelightfullythathesooncharmedtheotherbyhislivelytalesofcircus-life.ThenMissCeliafeltrelieved,andeverythingwentsplendidly,especiallythefoodfortheplateswereemptiedseveraltimes,thelittletea-potrandrytwice,andthehostesswasjustwonderingifsheoughttostophervoraciousguests,whensomethingoccurredwhichsparedherthatpainfultask. Asmallboywassuddenlydiscoveredstandinginthepathbehindthem,regardingthecompanywithanairofsolemninterest.Apretty,well-dressedchildofsix,withdarkhaircutshortacrossthebrow,arosyface,astoutpairoflegs,leftbarebythesockswhichhadslippeddownoverthedustylittleshoes.Oneendofawidesashtrailedbehindhim,astrawhathungathisback,hisrighthandfirmlygraspedasmallturtle,andhisleftachoicecollectionofsticks.BeforeMissCeliacouldspeak,thestrangercalmlyannouncedhismission. "Ihavecometoseethepeacocks." "Youshallpresently—"beganMissCelia,butgotnofurther,forthechildadded,comingastepnearer,— "Andthewabbits." "Yes,butfirstwon'tyou—" "Andthecurlydog,"continuedthesmallvoice,asanotherstepbroughttheresoluteyoungpersonagenearer. "Thereheis." Apause,alonglookthenanewdemandwiththesamesolemntone,thesameadvance. "Iwishtohearthedonkeybray." "Certainly,ifhewill." "Andthepeacocksscream." "Anythingmore,sir?" Havingreachedthetablebythistime,theinsatiableinfantsurveyeditsravagedsurface,thenpointedafatlittlefingeratthelastcake,leftformanners,andsaid,commandingly,— "Iwillhavesomeofthat." "Helpyourselfandsituponthesteptoeatit,whileyoutellmewhoseboyyouare,"saidMissCelia,muchamusedathisproceedings. Deliberatelyputtingdownhissticks,thechildtookthecake,and,composinghimselfuponthestep,answeredwithhisrosymouthfull,— "Iampapa'sboy.Hemakesapaper.Ihelphimagreatdeal." "What