Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/82

72 was eating, one paw, resting on the soft candy in the little dish, was rapidly sinking down into it. By the time his appetite was satisfied, the cold had hardened the candy until the foot was held fast. Just then he heard Bert coming out, and, with a startled yelp and a clatter, Master Fuzz guiltily fled, plate and all, to the front steps, where his master had let him in. While Bess and the boys finished the candy, now almost too hard to pull, Mrs. Carter took the dog in hand and, after many trials, succeeded in freeing him from his trap.

Then five sticky but very happy lads, each with a piece of adhesive candy, settled themselves around the fire once more, with Bess in their midst.

“Only half an hour more we can stay,” sighed Ted, who was luxuriously seated in the wood-basket. “It’s been an immense lark, Miss Bess!”

“Yes,” said Phil, trying to let go of his candy, while he put on the slipper that Rob had just knocked from his toe where he was balancing it, “this is the best fun I’ve had since Christmas.”