Aunty glanced through the pages—
"About as much again," she said. "No, scarcely so much."
"Well then, dears, it must wait till to-morrow," said grandmother.
"Oh, grandmother!" remonstrated the children.
"Aunty said it was a shorter story than yours, grandmother," said Molly in a half reproachful voice.
"And are you disappointed that it isn't?" said aunty, laughing. "I really didn't think it was so long as it is."
"Oh! aunty, I only wish it was twenty times as long," said Molly. "I shouldn't mind hearing it all over again this minute, only you see I do dreadfully want to hear the end. I am sure they had to stay there all night, and that something frightens them. Oh it's 'squisitely delicious," she added, "jigging" up and down on her chair.
"You're a 'squisitely delicious little humbug," said aunty, laughing. "Now good-night all three of you, and get to bed as fast as you can, as I don't want 'grandmother dear' to scold me for your all being tired and sleepy to-morrow."