Instantly she was at her old friend's side and looking up in his face. "Does they, Daddy Merle?" she asked.
"Does what, my dear?" said Merle, taking her hand. He had not heard An Petronia's assertion.
"Does peppermints gwow on twees?"
"I didn't say peppermints, I said pepper," put in Freddy.
At this there was a perfect hubbub of "he dids" and "he didn'ts," as the children took sides, all but Petronia, who, having started the row, now stood tightly holding the curate's hand and watching the conflict with wide, fascinated eyes.
When things had arrived at the hair-pulling and slapping stage, Merle, feeling Petronia's hand tighten round his finger, had a sudden inspiration. Clapping his hands to attract attention, he called out suddenly in the most thrilling tones at his command, "Who wants to know a secret?"
In an instant the clash of battle ceased, for a moment there was perfect silence, tiny tears were brushed away by grimy little fists, touzled hair was smoothed or tied back as the case might be, little girl arms stole around little girl waists and little boy elbows around little boy shoulders and then there burst forth a chorus of voices clamoring as one child, "Tell us the secret! Tell us the secret!"
"Children!" said the curate, when silence was restored, "I'm going to show you a peppermint tree!"
"A weally twuely peppermint twee, Daddy Merle?" said An Petronia, her eyes filled with wonder.
"A peppermint tree!" echoed the others.