"And you must have the other, Kitty," said Tim. "For, of course, you'll pour out the tea."
"If you wish it, I will," the little girl replied, a look of extreme gratification settling on her face.
"I'll tell master you're beginning tea," remarked Deborah. "Then he can join you or not as he likes."
A few minutes later Mr. Shuttleworth appeared upon the scene. He thought it would have been more comfortable to have had the meal in the house; but as the children assured him it was much nicer to have it outdoors, he good-humouredly took the second chair in the tent, whilst Kitty poured out the tea, and the boys sat cross-legged on the ground. They were all very friendly and merry, and by-and-by a glad bark was heard, and Snip, who had been waiting for an opportunity of joining his young mistress and master all the afternoon, and had just gained admittance into the garden, jumped into Kitty's lap.
"Oh, Snip, you weren't invited, sir!" she cried reproachfully, kissing him on the top of his head.
"Nevertheless, he must have some tea," Mr. Shuttleworth said with a smile, as he poured out a saucer of milk for the little dog. "Dear me, he has been in the wars, has he not?"
Kitty immediately explained how Snip had come by his wounds, and went on to give Mr. Shuttleworth a graphic description of old Jacob Dottin and his shop, finally telling him that Fluffy had come from there.
"Who is Fluffy?" Mr. Shuttleworth inquired.
"The beautiful white rabbit Tim gave me in place of the one he killed," she replied. Whereat Tim turned crimson and looked terribly abashed, and Bob changed the conversation.
It was not until shortly before his visitors left that Tim plucked up sufficient courage to speak to them about the bad turn he had served them at the commencement of his acquaintance with them, and to beg their forgiveness, which was willingly granted.