“Yes,” said Aunt Vi; “there’s always a cat to be suspected when there has been mischief.”
“I’m afraid he put it in his basket,” went on Mrs. Dunlee, referring of course to Jimmy, and not the cat.
“He said he wanted some of the cake for those boys, Gilly Irwin and his cousin; and I told him he might have a piece to-morrow. But he didn’t seem quite satisfied; I remember it now distinctly. He said, ‘It does look so smooth and nice before it is cut up. If Dick could only see it all whole!’”
“What reply did you make?” asked Mr. Dunlee.
“I believe I didn’t make any reply. Do you suppose, now, Jimmy could have thought I meant to give him the cake?”
“Hardly likely,” said Mr. Dunlee. “But there is one possibility I can think of. He may have taken it to show to the boys, intending to bring it back uncut and uninjured. I know he had a basket in his hand; that large one he carries.”
“Did he really have that basket?” returned Mrs. Dunlee. “Then it does look very much as if he put the cake in it! Hush! isn’t that Jimmy’s step in the hall?”