human
Now I shall take his dough,
gpt
No such thing, declared Van, flying out of his chair.
human
Leave your hands off, youngster! that's to be mine.
gpt
I didn't promise not to have it out with Dicky, said Van stoutly.
human
He's a perfect plague, and always under foot. I never thought of such a thing as not making him stand around, Polly.
gpt
I only promised not to have a bout with Percy, Van proceeded uncomfortably. And in the same breath,
human
Go ahead, If you want it, Dicky, I don't care.
gpt
I do want it, declared Dick, clambering into Van's chair, while Van returned to his own,
human
Softly there, Dicky, said Mrs. Whitney, over in the window-seat with her fancy work;
gpt
Thank you, and adding brightly,
human
All right,
gpt
Now, cried Jasper, with a flourish of his baking apron,
human
Jappy's always ahead in everything, grumbled Percy, laboring away at his dough.
gpt
How in the world do you make the thing roll out straight? Mine humps up in the middle.
human
Put some more flour on the board, said Polly, running over to him.
gpt
There, now see, Percy, if that doesn't roll smooth.
human
It does with you, said Percy, taking the rolling-pin again, to send it violently over the long-suffering dough,
gpt
he cried, in delight at the large flat cake staring up at him from the board.
human
Now, says I, I'll beat you, Jappy!
gpt
But, I can tell you, this gingerbread boy is going in next, declared Mr. King from Phronsie's baking-board.
human
It's almost done, isn't it, child?
gpt
Not quite, Grandpapa, said Phronsie;
human
pointing to the currant that certainly showed no inclination to do its duty, as any well-bred eye should.
gpt
Wait just a moment, please; I'll pull it out and stick it in again.
human
Take another, advised the old gentleman, fumbling over the little heap of currants on the saucer.
gpt
There, here's a good round one, and very expressive, too, Phronsie.
human
That's lovely, hummed Phronsie, accepting the new eye with very sticky fingers.
gpt
Now, he's all ready, as she set it in its place, and took the boy up tenderly.
human
Give me a pan, do, Polly.
gpt
Did you cut that out? cried Dick, turning around in his chair, and regarding her enviously,
human
No; she made it all herself, said the old gentleman, with justifiable pride.
gpt
There, Phronsie, here's your pan, as Polly set it down before her with a
human
You precious dear, that's perfectly elegant!
gpt
Grandpapa sat here, and looked at it, and smiled, she said, turning her eyes gravely on Dick,
human
If I look at it in twenty-one minutes, I think it will be done, she said,