HALF the evening went as nicely as possible, all the four being pleased and happy. Then, with no previous warning, a cloud came. The look which the girls well knew, came over Mrs. Plunkett's face—her "temper-look" they called it between themselves—and all brightness was gone. She lagged slowly by her husband's side, snapped at Marigold, silenced Narcissus, disagreed with whatever was said, refused to be interested, and finally declared that it was time to go home.
"But we can't! Father, need we? There's ever so many more creatures to see. Why, we haven't come across the snakes yet," protested Narcissus.
"You'll just do whatever you are told," said Mrs. Plunkett.
"Need we go?" implored Narcissus, appealing to her father.
Plunkett was at a loss. His wife turned her face towards the main entrance, with the air of one who had made up her mind; and he knew that she did not intend to go alone. He was capable of a blustering resistance under excitement, but in cooler moments, his extreme good nature made him yielding.
"Well, but now, Jane—" he expostulated.
"We've been long enough. A set of nasty beasts! I've had enough of 'em; and the girls aren't going to stay behind alone."
"Maybe you'll sit down here, and rest a bit, while I take them round," suggested Plunkett.
"Maybe I'll do nothing of the sort," returned she.
"But you'd like to see the snakes too, mother," urged Marigold, dismayed with the results of her own kind action. "The boa constrictor, you know, and the—"