"Didn't he come?"
"Larry! Larry!" Good Gracious, where was Larry? They were all
sure that he had come in with them, for Susan remembered scolding
him for tripping over the door-mat. Uncle Jack went into
convulsions of laughter. "Are you sure there were nine of you?"
he asked, merrily.
"I think so, sir," said Peoria, timidly; "but, anyhow, there was
Larry;" and she showed signs of weeping.
"Oh, well, cheer up!" cried Uncle Jack. "I guess he's not
lost--only mislaid. I'll go and find him before you can say Jack
Robinson!"
"I'll go, too, if you please, sir," said Sarah Maud, "for it was
my place to mind him, an' if he's lost I can't relish my
vittles!"
The other Ruggleses stood rooted to the floor. Was this a dinner
party, forsooth; and, if so, why were such things ever spoken of
as festive occasions?
Sarah Maud went out through the hall, calling, "Larry! Larry!"
and without any interval of suspense a thin voice piped up from
below, "Here I be!" The truth was that Larry, being deserted by
his natural guardian, dropped behind the rest, and wriggled into
the hat-tree to wait for her, having no notion of walking
unprotected into the jaws of a dinner-party.
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