Tom carefully selected the best of everything for Nan , to be crushed by the remark : ' I never eat at this hour ; and you will have a nightmare if you do . ' So , dutifully curbing the pangs of hunger , he gave the plate to Daisy , and chewed rose-leaves for his supper . When a surprising quantity of wholesome nourishment had been consumed , someone said , ` Let 's sing ! ' and a tuneful hour followed . Nat fiddled , Demi piped , Dan strummed the old banjo , and Emil warbled a doleful ballad about the wreck of the Bounding Betsey ; then everybody joined in the old songs till there was very decidedly ` music in the air ' ; and passers-by said , as they listened smiling : ` Old Plum is gay tonight ! ' When all had gone Dan lingered on the piazza , enjoying the balmy wind that blew up from the hayfields , and brought the breath of flowers from Parnassus ; and as he leaned there romantically in the moonlight , Mrs Jo came to shut the door . ` Dreaming dreams , Dan ? ' she asked , thinking the tender moment might have come . Imagine the shock when , instead of some interesting confidence or affectionate word , Dan swung round , saying bluntly : ' I was wishing I could smoke . ' Mrs Jo laughed at the downfall of her hopes , and answered kindly : ` You may , in your room ; but do n't set the house afire . ' Perhaps Dan saw a little disappointment in her face , or the memory of the sequel of that boyish frolic touched his heart ; for he stooped and kissed her , saying in a whisper : ` Good night , mother . ' And Mrs Jo was half satisfied . Chapter 5 . VACATION Everyone was glad of a holiday next morning , and all lingered over the breakfast-table , till Mrs Jo suddenly exclaimed : ` Why , there 's a dog ! ' And on the threshold of the door appeared a great deer-hound , standing motionless , with his eyes fixed on Dan . ` Hallo , old boy ! Could n't you wait till I came for you ? Have you cut away on the sly ? Own up now , and take your whipping like a man , ' said Dan , rising to meet the dog , who reared on his hind legs to look his master in the face and bark as if uttering an indignant denial of any disobedience . ` All right ; Don never lies . '
And XXXXX gave the tall beast a hug , adding as he glanced out of the window , where a man and horse were seen approaching : ' I left my plunder at the hotel over night , not knowing how I should find you .
Betsey Dan Emil Hallo Jo Nan Nat Parnassus Tom rose-leaves