Part 16 (1/2)
Miss Chase s fellow
”I wouldn't cohtly ”They tell me it is a toss up whether the cliland”
”Treason, treason, Bob,” said Mrs Orban ”Reuess you have mellowed in the sunshi+ne,” Bob said iood word about England; don't you let yourselves be spirited away by bad fairies, or you'll regret it”
”It's high treason,” shouted Eustace ”England is our country Off with his head”
Then suddenly Miss Chase sahat her nephews and nieces really were like
”He has got to be punished,” Nesta sang out
Peter and Becky un whistling with a great show of unconcern
”What's his punishht a , and Nesta mentioned a few tortures in the way of old-fashi+oned forfeits
”It's too hot for violent exercise,” said Bob, when Nesta requested hio home to mother if I am ill-used”
”Have some tea, Bob,” said Mr Orban
”No, no,” cried the bullying trio, ”not till he has paid his penalty for high treason”
”Well,” said Mrs Orban gently, ”suppose you fetch the banjo andfor his tea”
”Good! Good!” was the inedly
”I don't think a crueller sentence could have been passed,” he said with a roan
”Between ourselves,” said Mrs Orban, as the children rushed into the drawing-room to fetch the banjo, ”there is no tea in the pot, and you ”
Bob took the banjo with the air of a ,” he said, struck a few chords, and began, in his really beautiful voice,--
”Dey told us darkies right away out west In England men make der money much de best, And I believed dat ebry as true, So dat is why I co wid you
Oho you and de banjo”
”Oh, oh, oh,” interrupted the children, ” you will have to do another as well”
”You can't hang a man after his head is cut off,” said Bob stolidly, and went on,--
”But noe're here, why, de ot nuffin' but de old banjo: So we rove the streets if de wedder's wet or dry, Till my heart most breaks and der's water in your eye