`` 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 Bab , feeling that some such convulsion of Nature was needed to explain satisfactorily the demoralized condition of her family . `` That will be splendid . My poor Linda was knocked right over on her nose . Darlin ' child , come to your mother and be fixed , '' purred Betty , lifting the fallen idol from a grove of chickweed , and tenderly brushing the dirt from Belinda 's heroically smiling face . `` She 'll have croup to-night as sure as the world . We 'd better make up some squills out of this sugar and water , '' said Bab , who dearly loved to dose the dollies all round . `` P ` r ` aps she will , but you need n't begin to sneeze yet awhile . I can sneeze for my own children , thank you , ma'am , '' returned Betty , sharply , for her usually amiable spirit had been ruffled by the late occurrences . `` I did n't sneeze !
I 've got enough to do to talk and cry and cough for my own poor dears , without bothering about yours , '' cried XXXXX , even more ruffled than her sister .
Bab Belinda Betty Darlin Linda aps chickweed convulsion tea-party to-night