“That’s not at all good reasoning, Milly,” said Mr. Norton, who could not resist the temptation of throwing one more sofa cushion at her laughing face. “You can’t make nurse stand on her head, but that’s no reason why nurse should stand on her head.”
Just then Olly, moving up a stool behind his father’s chair, brought his little mouth suddenly down on his father’s head, and gave him three kisses in a great hurry, with a shout of triumph at the end.
“Dear me!” said Mr. Norton, shutting his eyes and falling back as if something had happened to him. “This is very serious. Aunt Emma, that spell of yours is really too strong. My poor head! It will certainly burst if I don’t get this story out directly! Come, jump up, children—quick!”
Up jumped the children, one on each knee, and Mr. Norton began at once.
[CHAPTER VIII]
The Story of Beowulf
Once upon a time there was a great—”
“Father,” interrupted Milly, “I shall soon be getting tired of ‘Once upon a time there was a great king.’”
“Don’t cry till you’re hurt, Milly; which means, wait till I get to the end of my sentence. Well, once upon a time there was a great—hero.”