"What?" cried Polly, coming out of her sorry little fit to stare at him.
"Whew!" whistled Ben, and he stuck his hands in his pockets and stared too.
"Yes, there isn't any earthly reason why the monkey couldn't come up here," said Jasper, persistently, "and I really need him. He'd cheer me up," he added.
"Yes, there's no doubt of that," said Ben, with a chuckle.
"Well, then bring him. Do, there's a good chap," said Jasper, leaning forward to bestow a resounding clap on Ben's shoulder.
"Goodness me," said Ben, backing away, "if Doctor Fisher could only feel you he'd let you downstairs fast enough. There'd be no need of bringing monkeys or anything else up to you."
"Well, Doctor Fisher isn't here," said Jasper, laughing, "and I am made to stay up here. And just think how dull it is," he added artfully.
"That's a compliment, now," said Ben, "when we've tried to entertain you as hard as we can."
"Well, I didn't mean that; you know I didn't," said Jasper, coming out of his laugh to look very much distressed. "You know I didn't, Polly, don't you?" he begged, appealing to her.
"Yes, I do," said Polly, "know you didn't mean it at all, Jasper."