"Oh, I don't care," laughed Polly. "Well, now here's the play.
You see, we want something quite fine and extra," and she looked
at Ben meaningly. He nodded, so she rushed ahead, well pleased.
"Well, the name is Mr. Primrose and his Cat."

"And the bear," shouted Joel. "And I know what I'm going to do,
Polly, I'm going to eat the cat up."

"Oh, no, you mustn't, Joe," said Polly, "for the cat is going to
be Phronsie. Now you must be good and not scare her."

"I'll tell her I'm nothing but Joel, and I ain't a bear," said
Joel.

"Hush about your old bear, Joe," said Ben. "Polly can't get on
at all if you don't keep still."

"I'll fix it, Joey," said Polly, kindly, "so you can be a bear,
only you must promise not to roar too much and scare Phronsie."

"I won't scare her a single bit, Polly," promised Joel, eagerly.

So then Joel and his bear being settled, Polly launched forth on
the wonderful play, and Mother Pepper glanced up now and then
from her mending, and a smile began to come on the face that had
been soberly bent on her work.

"Poor things!" she said to herself. "And bless 'em, for the
comforts they are!" But she sighed as she glanced around the
bare old kitchen.