“You will be very welcome, Jeremias,” said Johnny ceremoniously.
Now it was Katrina the dwarf he was inviting. She could not believe at first that she was asked to a party at Kingthorpe.
“A dwarf like me would not be wanted at that fine place,” said poor Katrina.
“Yes, indeed, you are to come; you must come. There’s going to be a band of music the whole time.”
“Music? Is there to be music?”
“Yes, and awfully good things to eat.”
“Oh! but to think—music! It’s just heavenly to listen to music.”
“Well, you can sit and listen to music all day, and eat plums at the same time.”
Johnny prevailed; poor little Katrina agreed that she would come.
At the almshouse all the old women gathered in the hall and stared at Johnny Blossom. He looked very little standing among them. Indeed they would come, all of them, he might be sure of that.