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 Bab , even more ruffled than her sister . `` Then who did ? I heard a real live sneeze just as plain as anything , '' and Betty looked up to the green roof above her , as if the sound came from that direction . A yellow-bird sat swinging and chirping on the tall lilac-bush , but no other living thing was in sight . `` Birds do n't sneeze , do they ? '' asked Betty , eying little Goldy suspiciously . `` You goose ! of course they do n't . '' `` Well . I should just like to know who is laughing and sneezing round here .
May be it is the dog , '' suggested XXXXX looking relieved .
Bab Betty Linda choking dears earthquake right sneeze squills to-night