“There, there! I knew better all the time,” said Teddy, snapping his fingers.
This was very trying.
“O Nunky, Nunky!” cried angry Pollio, “you’ve told a”—
“You’ve made a little mistake,” struck in Posy, as angry as her brother, but more polite.
“They say ‘little Pitchers have great ears,’” said uncle Rufus, smiling: “perhaps they hear what isn’t to be heard. Think a minute, children, and see if you can’t be wrong. If a dog should talk, it would be a miracle.”
“But we heard him,” said Pollio.
“Did you see his lips move?”
“Oh! I—I don’ know. I didn’t think of that.”
“Well, I want to teach you to think, my boy; and that is why I have teased you a little. Beppo will speak again; and perhaps you’ll watch his lips this time, won’t you?”
“Your papa w’ipped me,” squeaked the fine little voice; but the twins both observed that Beppo never opened his mouth. They saw now that their uncle had been playing a trick upon them.