Chi listened with all his ears.
"Mother!" burst from the children, "where is it?" "Show it to us." "Why did n't you tell us before breakfast?"
"I can't show it to you yet; it's a live one."
"A live one!" chorussed the children.
"You 're fooling us, mother," said March.
"Do I look as if I were?" replied his mother.
And March was obliged to confess that she had never looked more in earnest.
Rose left her seat and stole to her father's side. "What does it mean, pater?" she whispered.
"Ask your mother," was all the satisfaction she received, and walked, crestfallen, back to her chair; for when had her father refused her anything?
"When will you tell us, anyway?" said Budd, a little gruffly. He hated a secret.