"A good spanking," said our Uncle Peter.
The Lady gave a little gasp.
"Oh, not for punishment," said our Uncle Peter. "But just for exercise.—It's the only exercise that a lot of pampered, sedentary children ever get!"
"P—Pampered?" gasped the Lady. "S—Sed—entary?" As though her head was bursting with the noises all around the room she clapped her hands over her ears.
Our Uncle Peter jumped up from his chair and began to chase the little tin railroad train. It looked funny to see so large a man running after so small a train. When he caught it it was having a railroad accident in the tunnel under the table where a book had fallen on the track. Like a beetle with no paint on its stomach he left it lying on its back with its little wheels kicking in the air.
"If only all the racket was as easily disposed of!" said the Lady.
"It IS!" said our Uncle Peter.
Like turning off faucets of water he turned off the noises one by one,—the window-breeze that made the glass dangles tinkle,—the funny jiggly spring that kept the toy bird screaming "Hi-Hi" in its wicker cake,—the music box that tooted horns and beat drums right in the middle of its best tunes! He looked like a giant stalking through the Noah's Ark animals! His foot was longer than the village store!
"If only I figured as largely in a less miniature world!" he said.
He looked at the Lady very hard when he said it as though he was saying something very important.