“She wants you,” said Sarah, as she looked at the by no means unfamiliar performance. “I’ll take Rosy Posy, and the rest of ye had better go, an’ have it over with.”
“Come on, then,” said King, already sorry for their boisterous misdemeanors.
Unlocking the door, he marched into the dining-room, followed by his two sisters.
“Dear Miss Larkin,” he said, with a low and elaborate bow, “we’re ’ceedingly sorry we went off in such a hurry, and we’ve come back to ’pollergize.”
Kitty caught the dramatic tone of his apology, and falling on her knees, with clasped hands, she looked beseechingly up into Miss Larkin’s face, and wailed:
“Do forgive us—ah, do!”
Marjorie, not to be outdone, fell down in a posture which she fondly hoped represented an Oriental salaam.
Crouching on the floor, she buried her face in her folded arms, and rocked her plump body from side to side, as, she gave voice to long, deep groans supposed to be expressive of abject repentance. Her position was temptingly insecure, and King couldn’t resist a tiny push which sent her rolling over against Kitty, and the girls both lost their equilibrium.
Then Miss Larkin lost her temper.
“You’re the worst children I ever saw!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t know civilized beings could be such rude and unmannerly and barbarous——”