She held out her hand very politely, however, and said "How do you do?" and the little, old gentleman bowed three times, and then sat down again on the sofa.
"I cannot speak your language very well," he said, in a high, squeaky voice. "But I want to make your acquaintance, and the acquaintance of your brothers and your sisters. Where are they, if you please?"
"I'll go and fetch them," said Mary; and she went out into the hall, and called the other children, who were all sitting in a row at the foot of the staircase.
They jumped up when they saw Mary, and followed her across the hall in great glee when they heard that the foreign gentleman wanted to see them also.
"He is a very queer old gentleman," she whispered: "but you mustn't laugh, any of you, or look at each other—promise!"
"You mustn't laugh, any of you—promise!"
"We promise," cried the children; and they pressed eagerly into the room, with Snap, the fox-terrier, bringing up the rear.