Page:Poor Cecco - 1925.djvu/108

94 Jensina and Bulka were both sound asleep, leaning on each other’s shoulders; he had some difficulty in rousing them. Bulka in fact scarcely woke at all. He stumbled drowsily up the hill, dragging the string of beads to which he had clung through all his adventures, and when they reached the house Poor Cecco pushed him in at once, head first, among the baby woodchucks, who had pulled the quilt over their heads and were snoring soundly.

Jensina, however, aroused when she found herself in the kitchen, and became quite lively. She gossiped with Mrs. Woodchuck, set the table, washed the dishes and brushed off the crumbs, and altogether made herself more agreeable. And then, weariness overcoming her suddenly, she stretched out on the floor and was immediately fast asleep.

Poor Cecco, who was in no mind to give up the beautiful cave he had taken so much trouble over, went up and spent the night there alone.

He was awakened by the smell of coffee, and the voice of Jensina and Mrs. Woodchuck, who were conversing in the kitchen below him, Mrs. Woodchuck saying: “For my part I like my coffee strong, and as for my husband, he will touch nothing but the very best acorns!”

“That sounds like breakfast!” thought Poor Cecco, and he rose, stretched himself, and trotted round to the front door.

Jensina, who was a born housewife, had been at work