"I wish we could do so now," said Ben.
"And those two," Joel went on, pointing to Polly and Ben, "used to go whispering around a lot of old secrets, that they wouldn't tell us. Oh! it was perfectly awful, wasn't it, Dave?" bestowing a small pinch on that individual's shoulder.
"I liked the secrets best not to know them till Polly and Ben got ready to tell us," said David slowly; "then they were just magnificent."
Phronsie had laid her head back in the waiting lap, and was crooning softly to herself.
"I want to go and see dear good Mr. Beebe," she said presently, "and nice Mrs. Beebe, can I, Mamsie?" looking over at her.
"To be sure," cried Mrs. Pepper, "you shall indeed, child."
"Beebe-Beebe, and who is he, pray?" demanded Mr. King.
"Oh! he keeps the shoe shop over in the Center," explained three or four voices, "and Phronsie's new shoes were bought there, you know."
"And he gave me pink and white candy-sticks," said Phronsie, "and he was very nice; and I like him very much."
"And Mrs. Beebe gave us doughnuts all around," communicated Joel; "I don't know but that I liked those best. There was more to them."