“No, sir. They’re young and sort of brown and tough looking.”
He jumped, upsetting his glass of water. “My boys!” he exclaimed, hurrying out while Kermit and Archie scurried after.
“Soldiers, Mother,” Kermit ran back to report, “and Father’s hugging them.”
“How do you know they’re soldiers?” demanded Ted.
“They saluted!” Kermit was triumphant. “Just like Father taught us.”
Oh, me! wailed Edith Roosevelt silently to herself, not even Christmas dinner alone! She rang the bell quickly.
“Set three more places,” she directed the girl who answered. “Mr. Roosevelt will have guests. But you are all to sit still,” she ordered the children.
“Don’t I stand up and bow like you told me?” asked Ted.
“No, you only bow a little when you are introduced.”
“You only stand up for ladies,” explained Alice.