CHAPTER IX A HAPPY TEA

retired,leavinghischerishedsticksbehindhim. Benranafterthechildtoseethathecametonoharm,andpresentlyreturnedtoreportthatAlfredhadbeenmetbyaservant,andgoneawaychantinganewverseofhispoem,inwhichpeacocks,donkeys,and"theflowersoflife"weresweetlymingled. "NowI'llshowyoumytoys,andwe'llhavealittleplaybeforeitgetstoolateforThornytostaywithus,"saidMissCelia,asRandacarriedawaythetea-thingsandbroughtbackalargetrayfullofpicture-books,dissectedmaps,puzzles,games,andseveralprettymodelsofanimals,thewholecrownedwithalargedolldressedasababy. Atsightofthat,Bettystretchedoutherarmstoreceiveitwithacryofdelight.Babseizedthegames,andBenwaslostinadmirationofthelittleArabchiefprancingonthewhitehorse,—allsaddledandbridledandfitforthefight.Thornypokedabouttofindacertaincuriouspuzzlewhichhecouldputtogetherwithoutamistakeafterlongstudy.EvenSanchofoundsomethingtointeresthimand,standingonhishind-legs,thrusthisheadbetweentheboystopawatseveralredandbluelettersonsquareblocks. "Helooksasifheknewthem,"saidThorny,amusedatthedog'seagerwhineandscratch. "Hedoes.Spellyourname,Sanch"andBenputallthegaylettersdownupontheflagswithachirrupwhichsetthedog'stailtowaggingashewaitedtillthealphabetwasspreadbeforehim.Then,withgreatdeliberation,hepushedthelettersabouttillhehadpickedoutsixthesehearrangedwithnoseandpawtilltheword"Sancho"laybeforehimcorrectlyspelt. "Isn'tthatclever?Canhedoanymore?"criedThorny,delighted. "Lotsthat'sthewayhegetshislivin',andminetoo,"answeredBenandproudlyputhispoodlethroughhiswell-learnedlessonswithsuchsuccessthatevenMissCeliawassurprised. "Hehasbeencarefullytrained.Doyouknowhowitwasdone?"sheasked,whenSancholaydowntorestandbecaressedbythechildren. "No,'m,fatherdiditwhenIwasalittlechap,andnevertoldmehow.Iusedtohelpteachhimtodance,andthatwaseasyenough,heissosmart.Fathersaidthemiddleofthenightwasthebesttimetogivehimhislessonsitwassostillthen,andnothingdisturbedSanchandmadehimforget.Ican'tdohalfthetricks,butI'mgoin'tolearnwhenfathercomesback.He'dratherhavemeshowoffSanchthanride,tillI'molder." "Ihaveacharmingbookaboutanimals,andinitaninterestingaccountofsometrainedpoodleswhocoulddothemostwonderfulthings.Wouldyouliketohearitwhileyouputyourmapsandpuzzlestogether?"askedMissCelia,gladtokeepherbrotherinterestedintheirfour-footedguestatleast. "Yes,'m,yes,'m,"answeredthechildrenand,fetchingthebook,shereadtheprettyaccount,shorteningandsimplifyingithereandtheretosuitherhearers. "Iinvitedthetwodogstodineandspendtheeveningandtheycamewiththeirmaster,whowasaFrenchman.Hehadbeenateacherinadeafanddumbschool,andthoughthewouldtrythesameplanwithdogs.Hehadalsobeenaconjurer,andnowwassupportedbyBlancheandherdaughterLyda.ThesedogsbehavedatdinnerjustlikeotherdogsbutwhenIgaveBlancheabitofcheeseandaskedifsheknewthewordforit,hermastersaidshecouldspellit.Soatablewasarrangedwithalamponit,androundthetablewerelaidthelettersofthealphabetpaintedoncards.Blanchesatinthemiddle,waitingtillhermastertoldhe