“You?” said Ben, turning around his chair, and looking at him; “I can't teach you anything, Jappy. You know everything already.”
“Let him come, anyway,” said Polly, hopping up and down.
“Oh, I'm coming, Professor,” laughed Jasper. “Never you fear, Polly; I'll be on hand when the rest of the class comes in!”
“And Van,” said Mrs. Pepper, pausing a minute in her work, and smiling over at him in a lull in the chatter—“I think flowers are most beautiful!” and she pointed to a little framed picture on the mantel, of the bunch of buttercups and one huge rose that Van had with infinite patience drawn, and then colored to suit his fancy.
“Do you?” cried Van, perfectly delighted; and leaving the group he rushed up to her side. “Do you really think they're nice, Mrs. Pepper?”
“Of course I do,” said Mrs. Pepper briskly, and beaming on him; “I think everything of them, and I shall keep them as long as I live, Van!”
“Well, then,” said Van, very much pleased, “I shall paint you ever so many more—just as many as you want!”
“Do!” said Mrs. Pepper, taking up her work again. “And I'll hang them every one up.”
“Yes, I will,” said Van; “and I'll go right to work on one to-morrow. What you mending our jackets for?” he asked abruptly as a familiar hole caught his attention.
“Because they're torn,” said Mrs. Pepper cheerfully, “an' they won't mend themselves.”