"No," said Sybil, "I like stories of naughty boys and girls best—very naughty boys and girls."
"Oh, Sybil!" said Carrots, "I don't, because they are always unhappy in the end."
"No, they're not. Sometimes they all get good. Mother always makes them get good at the end," replied Sybil.
"Does auntie tell you stories?" said Floss.
"Yes, of course, for I can't read them to myself yet. I'm learning, but it is so hard," said Sybil dolefully.
"I wish auntie would tell us stories."
"P'raps she will when you come to my house," said Sybil, encouragingly. "Would you think that a treat?"
"It would be a 'normous treat."
"We're going to have a treat to-day," said Floss. "We're going to have tea in the dining-room with you, Sybil, and auntie and everybody, and I think it's time to go in now, because we must change our frocks."
Carrots had never had tea in the dining-room before, and felt a little overpowered by the honour. He sat very still, and took whatever was offered to him, as nurse had taught him. Cecil poured out the tea, and to please the children she put an extra allowance of sugar into their cups. Carrots tasted his, and was just thinking how very nice it was, when it flashed across his mind that he should not have had any sugar. He put down his cup and looked round him in great perplexity. If only he could ask Floss. But Floss was at the other side of the table, she seemed to be drinking her tea without any misgiving. Wasn't it naughty? Could she have forgotten? Carrots grew more and more unhappy; the tears filled his eyes, and his face got scarlet.