asked Dan , looking as if he found Demi almost as amusing as a new sort of cockchafer or beetle . `` Well , it 's one of my private plays , and I 'll tell you , but I think you 'll laugh at it , '' began Demi , glad to hold forth on this congenial subject . `` I play that my mind is a round room , and my soul is a little sort of creature with wings that lives in it . The walls are full of shelves and drawers , and in them I keep my thoughts , and my goodness and badness , and all sorts of things . The goods I keep where I can see them , and the bads I lock up tight , but they get out , and I have to keep putting them in and squeezing them down , they are so strong . The thoughts I play with when I am alone or in bed , and I make up and do what I like with them . Every Sunday I put my room in order , and talk with the little spirit that lives there , and tell him what to do . He is very bad sometimes , and wo n't mind me , and I have to scold him , and take him to Grandpa . He always makes him behave , and be sorry for his faults , because Grandpa likes this play , and gives me nice things to put in the drawers , and tells me how to shut up the naughties . Had n't you better try that way ? It 's a very good one ; '' and Demi looked so earnest and full of faith , that Dan did not laugh at his quaint fancy , but said , soberly , `` I do n't think there is a lock strong enough to keep my badness shut up . Any way my room is in such a clutter I do n't know how to clear it up . '' `` You keep your drawers in the cabinet all spandy nice ; why ca n't you do the others ? '' `` I ai n't used to it . Will you show me how ? '' and Dan looked as if inclined to try Demi 's childish way of keeping a soul in order . `` I 'd love to , but I do n't know how , except to talk as Grandpa does . I ca n't do it good like him , but I 'll try . '' `` Do n't tell any one ; only now and then we 'll come here and talk things over , and I 'll pay you for it by telling all I know about my sort of things . Will that do ? ''
and XXXXX held out his big , rough hand .
Dan Demi Every Grandpa beetle clutter cockchafer goodness naughties subject