Ellen told Rodolphus that she thought it was time for him to get ready to go to school.
"Oh, no," said Rodolphus, "it is not time yet;" so he went prancing and galloping on around the great tree.
A moment afterward his mother came to the door.
"Rodolphus," said she, "it is time for you to go to school."
"Oh no, mother, not yet," said Rodolphus.
"Yes," said his mother, "it is quite time. Come in directly."
"Well, mother," said Rodolphus, "I will."
Mrs. Linn stopped a moment to look at Ellen's rose-tree, and to say "How pretty it looks climbing up here by the door;" and then she went in. Rodolphus continued to run round the yard. Presently he came prancing up to the door, and stopped to see what Ellen was doing.
"Rodolphus," said Ellen, "you ought to obey mother. She said that you must go to school."
"Oh, pretty soon," said Rodolphus. "She is not in any hurry."