“Yes,” admitted Little Black Bear, “it was all my fault. For it was I who did it—I and the chair.” And he recited just what had happened. “But I’ll clean up every last one of the berries—honest I will.”
“Pshaw, now, you’ll do nothing of the kind, for the broom will clear them away in three Whisks and a whee,” laughed Mrs. Shagg.
“Of course,” agreed Tumble Curls “while I can easily get a brimming bonnet-ful more.” And she started away toward the window.
“Nonsense,” protested Shagg, “you’ll do nothing of the sort; for we can go without dessert for once, I guess. Stay right where you are and meet our new friend, Little Black Bear.”
“Pleased to,” said Tumble Curls, dropping a curtsy and putting one hand to her dimpled chin. And when, a moment later, she learned that Little Black Bear was from the circus you may be sure she forgot all about the berries that had by now been brushed into a dustpan by Mrs. Shagg.
Indeed nothing would do but that Little Black Bear should do some tricks for them.
Little Black Bear gladly did his tricks over and over again. Page [185].
“Oh, please, please do,” begged Tumble Curls, “for I’ve never, never been to a circus, though my grannylocks has told me about them and, once, I saw a wonderful picture. It showed some bears walking on big, colored globes. Do they really do that?”
“Why, of course,” answered Little Black Bear. “That’s easy as pie. If I only had—”