“Oh, the little brown house,” cried Dicky, his cheeks all a-flame. “The dearest little house mamma! I wish I could live in one!
“Twouldn't be the same without the Peppers in it,” said Jasper. “Not a bit of it!”
“And they had such perfectly elegant times,” cried Percy, enviously, drawing up to her side. “Oh, you can't think, mamma!”
“Well now,” said his mamma, “do go on, and let me hear some of the nice times.”
So away they launched again, and Mrs. Whitney was soon enjoying it as hugely as the children, when a heavy step sounded in the middle of the room, and a voice spoke in such a tone that everybody skipped.
“Well, I should like to know what all this means! I've been all over the house, and not a trace of anybody could I find.”
“Oh father!” cried Mrs. Whitney. “Van, dear, get up and get grandpapa a chair.”
“No, no!” said the old gentleman, waving him off impatiently. “I'm not going to stay; I must go and lie down. My head is in a bad condition to-day; very bad indeed,” he added.
“Oh!” said Phronsie, popping up her head and looking at him. “I must get right down.”
“What's the matter, Phronsie?” asked Mrs. Pepper, trying to hold her back.