“Oh, hear him!” exclaimed Posy, dancing about in a great flutter; while Pollio rolled over and over, and jerked his elbows, crying,—
“I never, never, never! Did you ever, uncle Rufus?”
“Your papa w’ipped me!” repeated Beppo.
Uncle Rufus seemed very much interested now, and watched the dog closely; but he was a man who was seldom surprised at any thing.
“No, I never heard a dog talk before; but what is there so very remarkable about it? Parrots can talk; and parrots don’t know half as much as dogs.”
“O Nunky, Nunky! it is queer,” exclaimed Pollio, astonished at his uncle’s coolness. “Why, he has lived here ever so long, and didn’t ever talk before.”
“No,” said Posy; “no more’n the cat.”
“How did he happen to speak now?”