cried Betty , all ready to run away if any new terror appeared . `` Look ! there ! it 's come back ! '' said Bab in an awe-stricken whisper , pointing to the table . Betty did look , and her eyes opened even wider , -- as well they might , -- for there , just where they first put it , was the lost cake , unhurt , unchanged , except that the big B had coasted a little further down the gingerbread hill . CHAPTER II WHERE THEY FOUND HIS MASTER Neither spoke for a minute , astonishment being too great for words ; then , as by one impulse , both stole up and touched the cake with a timid finger , quite prepared to see it fly away in some mysterious and startling manner . It remained sitting tranquilly in the basket , however , and the children drew a long breath of relief , for , though they did not believe in fairies , the late performances did seem rather like witchcraft . `` The dog did n't eat it ! '' `` Sally did n't take it ! '' `` How do you know ? '' `` She never would have put it back . '' `` Who did ? '' `` Ca n't tell , but I forgive 'em . '' `` What shall we do now ? '' asked Betty , feeling as if it would be very difficult to settle down to a quiet tea-party after such unusual excitement . `` Eat that cake up just as fast as ever we can , '' and Bab divided the contested delicacy with one chop of the big knife , bound to make sure of her own share at all events . It did not take long , for they washed it down with sips of milk , and ate as fast as possible , glancing round all the while to see if the queer dog was coming again . `` There ! now I 'd like to see any one take my cake away , '' said Bab , defiantly crunching her half of the pie-crust B. `` Or mine either , '' coughed Betty , choking over a raisin that would n't go down in a hurry .
`` We might as well clear up , and play there had been an earthquake , '' suggested XXXXX , feeling that some such convulsion of Nature was needed to explain satisfactorily the demoralized condition of her family .
Bab Betty Sally choking first gingerbread minute sips tea-party witchcraft