"I heard you tell Aunt Jane it was a _young_ folks' party.
Well, I'm young, aren't I? I'm eleven. Do you want me any younger? You
aren't ashamed of folks seeing me, are you! I'm not deformed or
anything."
"That's right! Put the nail in there, Ethel."
"Just a bit higher. That's right!"
"P'raps you're afraid of what I'll _eat_," went on William bitterly.
"Well, everyone eats, don't they? They've got to--to live. And you've
got things for us--them--to eat to-night. You don't grudge me just a
bit of supper, do you? You'd think it was less trouble for me to have
my bit of supper with you all, than in a separate room. That's all I'm
thinking of--the trouble----"
William's sister turned round on her ladder and faced the room.
"Can't _anyone_," she said desperately, "stop that child talking?"
William's brother began to descend his ladder. "I think I can," he
said grimly.
But William had thrown dignity to the winds, and fled.
He went down the hall to the kitchen, where cook hastily interposed
herself between him and the table that was laden with cakes and
jellies and other delicacies.
"Now, Master William," she said sharply, "you clear out of here!"
"I don't want any of your things, cook," said William, magnificently
but untruthfully. "I only came to see how you were getting on. That's
all I came for."
"We're getting on very well indeed, thank you, Master William," she
said with sarcastic politeness, "but nothing for you till to-morrow,
when we can see how much they've left.
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