"Oh, papa, this is Gustus, and I want you to let him work for us. This wonderful, wonderful dog is his, and if Gustus works for us, I can have Fritz to play with."
Beth stopped an instant for breath, which gave some of the others a chance to speak.
"Mamma, aren't his rags disgraceful?" whispered Marian to her mother.
"James, what shall we do?"
Mr. Davenport addressed the boy. "Are you looking for work?"
Gustus hung his head, but managed to say:
"Yes, massa, an' little missy 'lowed yo'd hire me and Fritz."
"Oh, papa, please, please hire them. Fritz is such a very wonderful dog."
Whereupon Indianna Scott, who was acting as waitress, spoke up:
"Don't yo' b'lieve dat, missy. Dat dog am nothin' but a no 'count fice."