"We've had a cake to-night, and now Mamsie's going to let you two boys sit up. I think nobody ever had such a perfectly beautiful time," declared Polly, as they dragged their chairs around the table again, and Mamsie got out her big mending basket, "did you, Ben Pepper?"
"No, I never did, Polly," said Ben, happy in seeing her face bright and rosy once more, with the little smiles running all over it.
"Now begin," cried Joel, drumming impatiently on the table; "what's the play to be, Polly? I'm going to be a bear," he announced.
"Oh, Joel, you were a bear last time," said Polly, with a little frown between her eyebrows.
"I don't care, I'm going to be a bear," repeated Joel, obstinately.
"See here, now, Polly makes this play, and you've got to be just what she says," said Ben.
"I'm so tired making plays with bears in 'em," said Polly, pushing off the little rings of brown hair with an impatient hand. Then she caught her mother's eye. "Never mind, Joey," she said with a gay little laugh, "I'll make the bear."
"Yes, you must be tired," declared Ben. "Joe, you oughtn't to tease Polly so. It's bad enough to have to make the plays, I think."
"Oh, I don't care," laughed Polly. "Well, now here's the play. You see, we want something quite fine and extra," and she looked at Ben meaningly. He nodded, so she rushed ahead, well pleased. "Well, the name is Mr. Primrose and his Cat."
"And the bear," shouted Joel. "And I know what I'm going to do, Polly, I'm going to eat the cat up."