‘“You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Winkle,” said she, severely. “You know your sister sneezed three times last night. Do you want to give her a cold in her nose? Answer me that.”’
‘Her nose,’ said Sally laughing. ‘I would like to see a periwinkle’s nose.’
‘Well, that is what Mother Periwinkle said,’ went on Father. ‘Winkle didn’t answer his mother at all. Instead, just to be disagreeable, he began to creep as slowly as he could. He scarcely seemed to move. He crept so slowly that Mother Periwinkle was afraid they would all be late to dinner.
‘“I don’t know what your grandmother will say if we are late,” said she, looking anxious. “Do hurry, Winkle. You are as slow as a snail.”’
‘Why, periwinkles are snails,’ spoke up Sally, opening her eyes in surprise.
‘Of course they are,’ answered Father, ‘but Mother Periwinkle didn’t think of that. Anyway, Winkle wouldn’t hurry. So, first, Mother Periwinkle coaxed him.
‘“You are the quickest little Periwinkle I know. Let me see how fast you can crawl, Winkle,” said she.
‘But that didn’t make Winkle hurry.
‘Then she scolded him.
‘“Shame on you, Winkle Periwinkle. How can you be so naughty?”