Then a big sneeze suddenly shook him.
"Oh, dear!" said part of him, most distinctly.
And another section of him piped up quickly, "Please excuse me!"
The audience clapped and clapped and laughed. They wanted the polar
bear to recite again, but he backed off and refused to come out. So
they drew the curtains together again and opened them in a few minutes
for the lion and the tiger to dance a pretty little waltz for which
Aunt Polly played the music. Then the entertainment was over.
The animals, still in their covers, as Meg called them, came down among
the audience and received many congratulations on their performance.
"I never enjoyed anything more in my life!" Mr. Carter assured Bobby,
smiling as though something had pleased him very much.
Mother Blossom had asked all the players to stay for supper, and after
the guests had gone twelve boys and girls sat down at the big, round
table and enjoyed Norah's sandwiches and bouillon and more ice-cream
and cake.
"Just like a birthday," said Dot, trying not to show that she was
sleepy.
"Better than a birthday," replied Aunt Polly, coming into the room with
a box in her hand. "I've counted the money, honeys, because I know you
are all eager to know how much you have for poor Mrs. Jordan and her
son Paul. Suppose you guess?"
"Ten dollars?" ventured Meg.
"Eleven?" said Bobby.
"Fifteen?" shouted the twins recklessly, guessing from Aunt Polly's
face that Meg and Bobby were wrong.
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