“I do think; I tell you, ma'am, I do think,” snapped the old gentleman. “It's just because I have thought that I've made up my mind. Will you do it Mrs. Pepper?”
“What are you goin' to do, mamsie?” asked Joel quickly.
“I don't know as I'm going to do anything yet,” said poor Mrs. Pepper, who was almost stunned.
“To come here and live!” cried Jasper, unable to keep still any longer—and springing to the children. “Don't you want to, Joe?”
“To live!” screamed Joel. “Oh whickety, yes! Do ma, do come here and live—do!”
“To live?” echoed Phronsie, over in the old gentleman's lap. “In this be-yew-ti-ful place? Oh, oh!”
“Oh, mamsie!” that was all Polly could say.
And even Ben had his arms around his mother's neck, whispering “Do” into her ear, while little Davie got into her lap and teased her with all his might.
“What shall I do!” cried the poor woman. “Did ever anybody see the like?”
“It's the very best thing you could possibly do,” cried the old gentleman. “Don't you see it's for the children's advantage? They'll get such educations, Mrs. Pepper, as you want for them. And it accommodates me immensely. What obstacle can there be to it?”