CHAPTER XV.
A Ball in the Nursery.
THE new Teddy bears proved a great acquisition to the society of the nursery. They were fine, plump specimens, and were all tagged “made in Germany,” a fact which marked them with especial distinction. Their manners were polished in the extreme and they at once became prime favorites. One of them, a particularly fine looking fellow, was labeled “the Kaiser,” and his round and sleek little frau so captured Bedelia’s fancy that she immediately devoted herself to the new acquaintances to the exclusion of everything else, even to Peter Pan and the cubs.
Peter Pan was anything but pleased at this turn of events, and began to fear that he had bitten off more than he could chew in sending for the strange bears. It was now his turn to sulk, and he behaved with such outrageous rudeness that the Kaiser took offence and matters began to assume a threatening aspect.
Bedelia was herself a delighted spectator of the trouble that she had stirred up, watching the trend of affairs with impish glee and redoubling her attentions in proportion as she saw it annoyed her husband.
Thus matters stood when the toys determined to give a grand reception and ball in honor of the newcomers, and elegant, engraved invitations were issued by an executive committee.
This was not a difficult thing to achieve, as Bedelia had purloined the same from mamma’s desk.