“Dinner!”
CHAPTER XI
A LONG DISPUTE ENDED
Such a queer company called for a queer table. This was long and narrow, and the dishes were placed all on one side. Steps led up to the other side for the waiters to ascend, for not one of the Coons was tall enough, even when he stood on tiptoes, to reach the top of the table from the floor.
The three Bears sat in the middle, with Buddie on the right and the Donkey on the left; and, in order to “keep peace in the family,” as the saying goes, Doctor Fox had been seated at one end of the table and Doctor Goose at the other. But, as we shall see, this arrangement did not long keep them from quarreling.
It was strictly a vegetarian dinner, and no two guests, except the Bears, had the same thing to eat. The Bears, of course, had porridge. There was a big bowl of it for the Great Huge Bear, a middle-sized bowl for the Middle Bear, and a wee bowl for the Little Small Wee Bear.
“And I suppose,” thought Buddie, “the Great Hooge Bear’s porridge would be too hot for me, and the Middle Bear’s too cold, and the Little Small Wee Bear’s just right. Goodness! Aren’t they going to give me anything to eat?” She had suddenly discovered that her plate was empty.
“I didn’t know what you liked,” said the Great Huge Bear, “so I thought I’d let you order.”
Buddie was much embarrassed. For one thing, everybody stopped talking and watched her curiously; and for another, she hadn’t the least idea what to ask for, except porridge, and she didn’t like that very well.
“Order anything you like,” said the Great Huge Bear.
“Some porridge, please,” Buddie at last decided. Porridge would be better than nothing.