“Seems on the big side for the middle one,” he said.
At this point a hullabaloo arose from behind the shed, and a small bear appeared, howling loudly.
“He tooken my bit of toffee,” yelled the bear in a very human voice.
“Aw, shut up!” said the man in his shirt-sleeves.
The small bear was followed by a large bear, protesting loudly.
“I gave him half’n mine ’n’e promised to give me half’n his’ ’n’ then he tried to eat it all’n’——”
“Aw, shut up!” repeated the man. Then he turned to William.
“All you gotter do,” he said, “is to fix on the middle bear’s suit an’ do exactly what you’re told, an’ I’ll give you five shillings at the end. See?”
“These roural places are a butiful chinge,” murmured Goldilocks’ mother, darkening her eyebrows as she spoke. “So calm and quart.”
“These Christmas shows,” grumbled the giant, flapping his arms vigorously, “are the very devil.”