“I did,” said Joel. “Oh, yes, he did,” declared little Davie, loudly, while Phronsie gave a little shout of delight. Then she laid her yellow head close to the little white cat, still snuggled up in Polly’s arms. “You are going to have some really and truly milk, you are, kitty,” she whispered.
“Now you may hold her, Phronsie, a minute,” said Polly. “I must pour the milk into a saucer.” For the little white cat’s nose was poked up toward the cup, and trembling violently in her eagerness to get some. “Oh, she’ll upset it all,” cried Polly; “hold her tightly, Phronsie.”
“Mee—ow!” cried the little white cat, in disappointment, as Polly hurried off, two or three drops of milk trailing down the side of the cup.
“Yes, yes—you shall have it,” promised Polly, over her shoulder. “Poor little thing, you—do keep still; I’ll be right back.”
And in a minute there the little white cat was before a saucer, both eyes closing blissfully, and her small pink tongue, darting in and out, was busy enough carrying the milk to her mouth, all four of the little Peppers in a ring around her on the kitchen floor.
VII
SPENDING THE DAY AT THE BEEBES’
“ALL day,” whispered little David, in a rapture. “Just think, Joey, all day!”
“I know it,” sang Joel. “Whoopity la! Ow—you pulled my hair, Polly.”
“Well, I can’t help it,” said Polly, “you jumped so, Joel. Do stand still.”
“I can’t,” said Joel, giving a long stretch. “Ow! Mamsie, Polly is hurting me dreadfully,” he whined to Mother Pepper, out in the kitchen.