"Yer don't get much heavier," said Joe, sitting down with Nelly on his knee. "We'll have to feed yer up a bit somehow."
"Oh, I's very well, Joe," said Nelly, nestling closer to her old friend.
"Dunno 'bout that," said Joe reflectively; "but what d' yer say 'bout havin' holiday to-day?"
"Oh, Methusaler!" said Benny, brightening up in a moment, "that's the game, are it?" and he went out in the doorway and stood on his head—a sure sign that he was more than usually delighted.
Nelly looked up in Joe's face with a beautiful light in her eyes. "D' yer mean it, Joe?" she said, simply.
"Ay, my bonny, that I do," responded Joe.
"Oh, then, won't it be jist—jist—"
"Profusely," said Benny, coming to her rescue with one of his grand words, of which he had been laying in a stock of late.
"Now, then," said Joe, "get on yer best togs, and let's be off."
Poor children! they had not much of best or worst in the way of attire, but, such as it was, it was clean and neatly mended. Granny did her very best to turn them out respectable, and certainly they did her no discredit.