As soon as they had planned the building, the axes and saw were in full use, and tree after tree fell one upon the other. They worked hard till dinner-time, and were not sorry at the prospect of sitting down to a rich mess of turtle-soup.
“My dear William, and you too, Mr Seagrave, how very warm you are!” said Mrs Seagrave; “you must not work so hard.”
“Cutting down trees is very warm work, mother,” replied William, “and hard work will never hurt any one, especially when he dines off turtle-soup. Why, Tommy, what’s the matter with you?”
“Tommy and I are at variance,” replied Mrs Seagrave. “I had my thimble this morning, and had commenced my sewing, when I was called out by Juno, and Caroline went with me, and Tommy was left in the house. When I came back I found him outside, and on going back to my work, there was no thimble to be found; I asked him if he had touched it, and his answer was that he would look for it. He did look, and said he could not find it; I have asked him several times if he took it away, and his only answer is that he will find it by and by.”
“Tommy, did you take the thimble?” said Mr Seagrave, gravely.
“I’ll find it by and by, papa.”
“That’s not an answer. Did you take the thimble?”
“I’ll find it by and by, papa,” said Tommy, whimpering.
“That’s all the answer he will give me,” said Mrs Seagrave.
“Well, then, he shall have no dinner till the thimble makes its appearance,” replied Mr Seagrave.