'Prince singing!' said Douglas contemptuously; 'I should like to hear him!'
'He does,' Betty said eagerly; 'he really does. He kind of whines in his throat and up his nose, and sometimes he puts up his head, opens his mouth wide, and gives a lovely howl! And he looks awfully pleased when he's done it; he thinks he sings very nicely. Where's nurse?'
'She's washing Bobby; he tumbled right into the pig-stye, and came out a disgusting objec'!'
'Is she rather cross?'
'Of course she is; she won't let you go to Miss Fairfax if you ask her now.'
'Then I'll wait till tea.'
Betty threw herself down on the grass, and Prince sat at her feet, thumping his tail on the ground, and watching intently every change that flitted across her face. Now and then he would make a snap at some flies; if Betty spoke to him, his whole body would wriggle with ecstasy; he seemed to live on her smiles and caressing words.
'It will be very dull to spend the day with a grown-up person,' said Douglas presently; 'I'm glad she didn't ask me; I never do care for grown-up persons.'
His lordly air in making this assertion helped to fortify Molly, who was bitterly disappointed in not being included in the invitation.
'I love her!' exclaimed Betty; 'she's the nicest grown-up I've ever seen. She does laugh so, and isn't a bit proper.'