Now that Mrs. Botts was gone, Manila was tearless once more. “My goodness!” she mourned, “now we’ve done it!”
“What?” asked Phœbe.
“Why, don’t y’ see? The Rat-Woman come too soon.”
“Sure enough!” Phœbe agreed. “Oh, that’s too bad!”
“And your paw don’t git to see her,” Manila added.
“Phœbe, why did you want your daddy to see her?” asked Uncle Bob.
“Oh, just be-because,” Phœbe frowned at Manila, warning her to silence.
Uncle Bob sat down upon the couch. “Come here, old dumpling,” he bade. And when Phœbe had gone to him, “Now, because why?”
“I don’t want to tell you,” she confessed frankly.
“But I’d really like to know.”