Mr. King drew a long breath. "Yes," he said at last.
XIII
A PIECE OF NEWS
"Collect the whole bunch of Peppers and send them into my writing-room, Marian." Old Mr. King mounting the stairs, turned to see that his command was heard.
"You want Mother Pepper too, I presume?" said Mrs. Whitney, pausing at the foot.
"Mother Pepper? No, indeed; the last person in the world I wish to see," cried her father irritably. "The bunch of Pepper children, I want, and at once; see that they all report to me directly." With that he redoubled his efforts and was soon at the top of the long oaken steps.
Polly and Ben closely followed by Joel, David and Phronsie soon rushed over the same ascending thoroughfare, and presented themselves, flushed and panting, at the writing-room door.
"Come in," called Mr. King from within.
"Here we are, sir," said Ben, spokesman by virtue of being the eldest.
"Yes, yes," said Mr. King nervously, and turning away from some papers he was fumbling to occupy the waiting moments. "Well, do sit down, all of you. I sent for you to have a talk about something that you—that you—well, do sit down."