Part 25 (1/2)
”That's what I think,” said Nesta ”If they left hiht it funny, I wish they could be tortured”
”Nesta, Nesta, ly
”I suppose,” said Miss Chase softly, ”the poor things have no knowledge ofthe evening; ”and they wouldn't understand it if you showed them any, either”
”No heathens ever do,” said Mrs Orban, ”and how should they? They have no Great Example to folloe have It is the people who have the chance of knowing better, and still are cruel and heartless, that I would have tortured--if any one”
Mr Orban gave a soft laugh
”If any one, indeed, wife,” he said ”You knoell as I do that you wouldn't have a spider hurt for torturing a fly”
Every one laughed with hiood as a fable in the household But she said quite gravely,--
”You have chosen a bad exanorant as a heathen It has only its own nature to follow”
”Got the worst of it there, Mr Orban,” said Bob in an a of cruelty,” remarked Miss Chase, ”what do you do to your unfortunate cows here at night? I never heard such a dismal noise as they make”
”Cows!” exclaimed every one in astonishment
”Yes, coas the answer ”If you listen you can hear them now”
There was an instant hush, followed by renewed peals of laughter
”Those aren't cows I advise you to go and syators hereabouts, and at the presenta nice, tasty supper would coators in the river, and yet Nesta says you boat on it and bathe in it!” exclaimed Miss Chase ”What extraordinary people you are!”
”There are alligators one side of the bar and sharks the other, and one often upsets going over it in rough weather,” said Bob cheerfully
”How horrible!” said Miss Chase
”When Aunt Dorothy saw a tarantula strolling round the table towards her the other day she nearly had a fit,” said Peter
”Don't tell tales out of school, Peter Perky,” said Aunt Dorothy
”A poor, ignorant Englishwo as a penny bun, with furry legs in proportion, trying to sit on her knee”
”Then, so far, Miss Chase,” said Bob, with a twinkle in his eyes, ”you are not infatuated with our Bush life?”
”Have you and Eustace given me iveaway and losing yourselves We don't think that sort of thing necessary for the entertainland
Spiders are spiders there, too, not animated penny buns, and our cows don't want to eat us”
”Oh, of course,” said Bob, ”everything is perfect in England--isn't it, Nesta?”
”It has soes,” said Mrs Orban ”I think the absence of these excite very worn out after her recent experiences