Biddy did not reply; the habit of being a mother had imposed on her, together with the gravity of her little, pale, oval face, a peculiar talent for silence. But the round-cheeked Susie said:
“Billy can eat cores.”
After this statement, silence was broken only by munching, till Tod remarked:
“What makes things?”
The children, having the instinct that he had not asked them, but himself, came closer. He had in his hand a little beetle.
“This beetle lives in rotten wood; nice chap, isn't he?”
“We kill beetles; we're afraid of them.” So Susie.
They were now round Tod so close that Billy was standing on one of his large feet, Susie leaning her elbows on one of his broad knees, and Biddy's slender little body pressed against his huge arm.
“No,” said Tod; “beetles are nice chaps.”
“The birds eats them,” remarked Billy.