Phronsie stood quite still just where Joel had left her; her hands were clasped and tears were rolling slowly down her cheeks. "No," she said, without looking at him, "Jasper, I don't."
"Do come, Phronsie," he begged, going over to her, and holding out his hand. "You can't think how nice the new one is, with yellow stripes and two long horns. Come and see it, Phronsie."
"No, Jasper," said the child quietly. Then in the next breath, "I think
Joey must be very sick."
"Oh! Mamsie is taking care of him, and he'll soon be all right," broke in Polly cheerily. "Do go with Jasper, Phronsie, do, dear." She took hold of the clasped hands, and smiled up into the drooping face.
But Phronsie shook her head and said "No."
"If Grandpapa should come in and find her so 'twould be very dreadful!" exclaimed Polly, looking over at the five boys, who in this sudden emergency were knocked speechless. "Do let us all play some game. Can't some one think of one?"
"Let us play 'Twenty Questions,'" proposed Jasper brightly. "I'll begin it, I've thought of something."
"That's horrid," cried Van, finding his tongue, "none of us want to play that, I'm sure."
"I do," said David. "I think 'Twenty Questions' is always nice. Is it animal, vegetable or mineral, Jasper?"
"I'm sick of it. Do play something not quite as old as the hills, I beg."