Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/257

XIV] "He had to put salt with them, a-course," Bruno said gravely: "oo ca'n't keep promises when there isn't any salt. And he kept his birthday on the second shelf."

"How long did he keep his birthday?" I asked. "I never can keep mine more than twenty-four hours."

"Why, a birthday stays that long by itself!" cried Bruno. "Oo doosn't know how to keep birthdays! This Boy kept his a whole year!"

"And then the next birthday would begin," said Sylvie. "So it would be his birthday always."

"So it were," said Bruno. "Doos oo have treats on oor birthday, Mister Sir?"

"Sometimes," I said.

"When oo're good, I suppose?"

"Why, it is a sort of treat, being good, isn't it?" I said.

"A sort of treat!" Bruno repeated. "It's a sort of punishment, I think!"

"Oh, Bruno!" Sylvie interrupted, almost sadly. "How can you?"

"Well, but it is," Bruno persisted. "Why, look here, Mister Sir! This is being good!"