There were a number of little tables in the carriage, on each of which were basins of steaming hot bread-and-milk.
The Eterædarium stood at one of the tables, and, with a spoon in each hand, was greedily devouring the bread-and-milk as quickly as he possibly could.
“Come on!” he shouted, with his mouth full. “Just in time. There are one or two basins left; but make haste, before the others come, or you won’t get any.”
CHAPTER XIX.
AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.
The bread-and-milk was very good, and the children enjoyed it immensely.
They would have taken a second basinful had the Eterædarium been at all pressing in his invitation for them to do so; but instead of asking them in the usual way, “Will you have any more?” he said, in a very anxious tone of voice, “You won’t have any more, will you?” which was, of course, a very different thing; and so they each meekly said, “No, thank you,” and watched the Eterædarium finish up the remaining basins.
“There now, I feel that I’ve done my duty,” he said, with a sigh of satisfaction, as he wiped his lips with a serviette, after scraping out the very last spoonful.