“I’ll eat it,” said Joel, picking it up with eager fingers.
“Take care,” warned Polly, “you’re spilling all the rest.” But little Davie fortunately having followed Joel away from the table to see if he couldn’t help too in getting dinner ready, caught the bread-plate just in time and set it straight.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to,” began Joel, in distress.
“And you can’t eat that bread after it’s been on the floor,” said Polly. “Dear me, Joe, what does make you act so!”
“I’ll scrape it!” said Joel, giving up the bread-plate to Davie, and suiting the action to the word he set to work on the slice.
“What’s that!” he exclaimed suddenly, dropping the bread, knife, and all. Little Davie jumped, too, and even Ben started, it was such a funny little noise. It didn’t sound like a cat exactly, and as the Pepper children didn’t have any pets, it couldn’t be one, of course.
“Oh, it’s the baby, and she’s awake!” Polly dashed off to the bedroom. “Come, Ben, and boys!”
It wasn’t necessary to tell them to follow her, for all three were close to her heels, as she opened the bedroom door and dashed in. Mother Pepper was over by the four-poster turning down the old quilt, and Phronsie was scrabbling up the other side of the big bed.
“Mamsie,” exclaimed Ben, after one look at the small face on the pillow, and he got close to Mrs. Pepper. “Oh, how can you take it?” pointing down at the bed, and he looked very grave.
“I know, Ben.” Mrs. Pepper turned to get a good look at his face. “I know what you’re thinking of, but, my boy, it was best, and besides it’s only for two days.”