"Was—was that the rising-bell or the breakfast-bell?"
"'Twas the breakfast-bell."
There was dead silence for a moment, and then Budge shouted:—
"Well, we'll call that the risin'-bell. You can ring another bell for breakfast pretty soon, when I get dressed." Then this volunteer adjuster of household affairs came calmly back and commenced dressing in good earnest, while I labored along with Toddie's wardrobe.
"Where's the button-hook, Budge?" said I.
"It's—I—oh—um—I put it—say, Tod, what did you do with the button-hook yesterday?"
"Didn't hazh no button-hook," asserted Toddie.
"Yes, you did; don't you 'member how we was a playin' draw teef, an' the doctor's dog had the toofache, and I was pullin' his teef with the button-hook an' you was my little boy, an' I gived the toof-puller to you to hold for me? Where did you put it?"
"I'd no," replied Toddie, putting his hand in his pocket and bringing out a sickly-looking toad.
"Feel again," said I, throwing the toad out of the window, where it was followed by an agonized shriek from Toddie. Again he felt, and his search was rewarded by the tension-screw of Helen's sewing-machine. Then I attempted some research myself, and speedily found my fingers adhering to something of a sticky consistency. I quickly withdrew my hand, exclaiming:—