"On him, if you will," she said. "He has taken a fancy to your cousin."
"Did you know he was coming?" asked Big Chief solemnly of the bed.
My young master was not as sleepy as he looked, and rising up on his knees he made Big Chief a profound bow. "Yes, Sir Curiosity Box," he said in a ridiculous voice, "I had full knowledge of the honor in store for me. Pardon me for not informing your knightship."
The Deverings, who were always ready to laugh, burst into a howl of amusement at Big Chief's confounded face. Then Mrs. Devering, checking her laughter, said, "Back to bed, children."
"I wanths to go theepy with you," said little Big Wig. "My beddieths cold."
Big Chief turned on him in a hateful way and said, "'Fraid cat."
The baby gave him a good slap in the face, and the discomfited Big Chief, seeing that his brothers and sisters were again convulsed with amusement at his funny twisted features, took his cross self back to his bed.
"Feels his oats," said Champ. "Dad's away."
"Ah! children—we should not have laughed at him," said Mrs. Devering sweetly.