“There, I did do it all myself,” announced Phronsie, clasping her hands in much satisfaction, as she slipped to the floor.
“So you did, dear.” Old Mrs. Beebe beamed at her and leaning over her she imprinted a kiss on the pink cheek. “Well, now, don’t you want to see what I’ve brought for you?” and she slipped the handles of the bag from her arm, and opened its mouth.
“Yes, I do,” said Phronsie, “very much indeed, dear Mrs. Beebe.”
“Bless your heart, you shall, and Joel and David, too,” said Mrs. Beebe. It was impossible for Joel to get closer to her than he at present was, and little Davie was wedged in the other side of Phronsie, as Polly came back from the bedroom.
“Now come, Polly,” said old Mrs. Beebe, as she drew out from the bag a big clean cloth that, unrolled, displayed a good half dozen of the sugariest doughnuts of most ample proportions, “there’s just one apiece, and one for your Ma,” she announced in huge satisfaction.
Old Mr. Beebe sat and laughed and mopped his face with his big bandanna all through the scene that ensued, as the children sat down on the floor and at once began work on their doughnuts, Polly first running to the closet to lay the two for Mamsie and Ben on a clean blue plate, and to shut the door fast.
“Oh, it’s so good of you, dear Mrs. Beebe,” she cried, dancing back to whisper this into the old lady’s ear.
“Well, now, you sit down and eat yours, Polly, child,” said old Mrs. Beebe. But first Polly had to run over to old Mr. Beebe’s chair because he nodded to her mysteriously and beckoned with a long finger.
“I’ve got some pep’mint sticks in my pocket,” he announced in a loud whisper, when she reached his side, “but Ma kinder thought ’twas better fer you to give ’em to th’ children to-morrow, an’ not on top o’ th’ doughnuts,” and he smuggled a wad into her hand. So Polly had to run off and slip that into the cupboard, too. Oh, such richness, and lasting over until to-morrow! “Did ever anybody have such a dear, good Mr. Beebe, and such a dear, good Mrs. Beebe as we have!” cried Polly, to herself as she tucked away her treasures. At last, there she was on the floor with the others and in the midst of the doughnut feast. And wasn’t it a feast, though!
Joel was through first, every crumb carefully picked up and swallowed. Little Davie, having eaten quite slowly, was just on the point of breaking off part of his doughnut to give to him, when old Mr. Beebe called out, “Now, then, Joel, my boy, you come along of me: I’m goin’ out to look at my horse.” So Joel clattered off with the old gentleman, well pleased with the invitation, and the kitchen toned down to quiet, only broken by Phronsie’s soft cooing to herself between the bites from her doughnut. At last she laid it down in Polly’s lap. “I’m going to get Seraphina and give her some,” she whispered.