“She has,” cried Joel, disentangling himself from the group, “don't you see, Jappy?”
“She's all home,” echoed Phronsie, flying up. “Oh, Ben, do draw me another little house!”
“And see—see!” cried the little Whitneys, pointing with jubilant fingers to their papa, “see what she brought!”
Jasper turned around at that—and then rushed forward.
“Oh, brother Mason!”
“Well, Jasper,” said Mr. Whitney, a whole wealth of affection beaming on the boy, “how you have stretched up in six months!”
“Haven't I?” said Jasper, laughing, and drawing himself up to his fullest height.
“He's a-standin' on tip-toe,” said Joel critically, who was hovering near. “I most know he is!” and he bent down to examine the position of Jasper's heels.
“Not a bit of it, Joe!” cried Jasper, with a merry laugh, and setting both feet with a convincing thud on the floor.
“Well, anyway, I'll be just as big,” cried Joel, “when I'm thirteen, so!”