Sarah put him through his paces and change of costumes with pride. He danced, he marched, he went through his acrobatics; he wheeled the doll carriage and poured afternoon tea; he played the piano and read, wearing a pair of glassless spectacles and turning the printed page with a graceful air of interest. He grunted "Yes" and he squeaked "No" to half a dozen questions. And finally, seated in a doll's rocking chair, he fanned himself as though the exactions of his art were wearing in the extreme.
"I ought to sign you up with the circus," said Mr. Robinson admiringly, when Sarah announced that Bony had displayed the extent of his accomplishments. "You must have a gift, to be able to train an animal like that. Of course he is a clever pig, but you have developed him and made it easy for us to teach him fancier tricks. Do you want to sell him?"
Sarah looked at Rosemary, who, with Shirley, had come out to witness the performance.
"Yes," said Sarah, after a minute. "Yes, I want to sell him."
"You can't change your mind, you know," announced the circus agent warningly. He wanted the pig but he wished to be fair.
Sarah's chin went up in the air.
"I won't change my mind," she declared. "I won't sell Bony and then ask for him back. You may have him—now."
"Can't take him till to-morrow morning," said Mr. Robinson. "Don't you have to ask any older person—your mother, for instance?"
Rosemary shook her head.
"Mr. Hildreth gave the pig to Sarah," she explained. "It is all hers. And you mustn't tell anyone about buying it—that is, that the money is for Louisa."