Prue and Tabby reading the Fairy Book
“Now, Tabby,” she was saying, “you mustn’t go to sleep when I’m reading to you. Now you listen: The princess—that’s Miss Dayton, Tabby—is very beautiful, and so I know there must be a prince, somewhere, that she knows; ’cause, Tabby, in the fairy tales the princesses always has princes; and, Tabby, I’ll tell you truly, Miss Dayton is prettier than any picture in this book. And, Tabby, she loves little girls and big girls, like my Randy, and she loves big womens and old womens and old mens, like Sandy McLeod; and, Tabby, I b’lieve, I most b’lieve she loves you, and I’m going to ask her.
“She prob’ly does love you; she seems to love everybody. This isn’t all in the book, Tabby, but what I tell you that isn’t in the book is true. I’m most glad the fairy stories ain’t true; for if things did happen like what’s in the book, maybe you’d turn into a frog, and then, Tabby, I couldn’t hug you.”
Here Tabby rubbed her head against Prue’s little arm. “There,” said the child, “you knew what I said, didn’t you?” and she sprang up, catching Tabby in her arms to “love her,” as she called it.
“Oh, did you hear me reading to my kitty?” shouted Prue, as she caught sight of her smiling audience.
“We heard ye, and I guess some of it was full as pretty as what was in the book,” said Mrs. Weston, and together the three wended their way back to the house, followed by Tabby.
CHAPTER X—THE APPLE-BEE
The apple-bee was to occur on Thursday evening, and Mrs. Weston and Randy, with little Prue for “errand boy,” had been busily employed in preparation for the delightful event. Prue made a fine little page, so delighted was she to be useful.