Page:The book of Betty Barber (IA bookofbettybarbe00andr).pdf/33

 “You never know what he’ll do,” said Easter.

“Well, never mind, he won’t put that book down until he has read every page of it,” said Summer, “and then we’ll make him tell us about it, so that we shall be saved the trouble of trying to read it.”

Half-term never smiled, never spoke, only moved to turn the pages over.

“He doesn’t think it is nonsense,” said Miss Crimson Lake.

“You don’t know what he thinks,” said Lucy.

“Wait until he has finished,” said the Major, “he won’t be very long.”

The three sisters were playing with one another, from time to time trying to tease and disturb their brother; but he only waved them away, and went on reading the book.

Nothing moved him until he had finished. Then he jumped up and looked about him.

“Well!” said the Major.

“What do you think of it?” said Miss Crimson Lake.

“I believe I could get to the top of that tree if I tried again,” said Half-term thoughtfully, “though it certainly is the very, very tallest tree I ever saw.”

“Hold him, don’t let him begin. If he once touches the tree, we shall hear no more of the book,” cried Christmas.

“Stop him, hold him!” shouted Easter.

The Major stepped forward, placed himself in front of the boy, and bowed low.

At once the boy began examining him carefully from head to foot.

“Major C, I believe,” he said. ‘Now, I suppose you come from Music Land, Major C Scale?”

The Major smiled and bowed most amiably.

“And you have a great many relatives, I believe,” said Half-term.

The Major bowed again.

“Then do you find it very dull without any Sharps or Flats?” 17