"Now, isn't he a dear?" cried Polly, dancing in front of Jasper's chair, and regarding the new pet with affection.
"He certainly is," said Jasper, making Jocko give him his paw, then teaching him to feel in his pockets.
"Oh, Polly, get me a lump of sugar, do; there on the tray." So Polly ran to the little silver bowl and came back with two sweet blocks in her hand.
At sight of them Jocko gave a greedy little cry and tried to spring off from Jasper's lap.
"Oh, no you don't, sir," said Jasper, holding him fast by the collar; "you must hunt for them. Give them to me, Polly."
So Polly put the sugar lumps into Jasper's hands, and he dropped one into each pocket. "There now, hunt, sir," which Jocko, wrinkling up his flat nose, was glad to do.
"Did you ever see such sweet little fingers?" said Polly, dropping to her knees by the side of the big chair, as Jocko, finding one sweet lump, dragged it forth triumphantly, to set sharp little teeth in it.
[Illustration: "DID YOU EVER SEE SUCH SWEET LITTLE FINGERS?" SAID POLLY.]
"Fingers! Oh, Polly!" exclaimed Ben, coming up, stick in hand.
Jocko grunted and chattered, one eye on the stick, while he nibbled away.
"All right," said Ben, depositing the stick on the table. "Lie there, but see that you behave, Mr. Jocko."
"He says he will," said Polly, with a laugh, as Jocko gave a little scream, his sugar being all gone. Then he began to hunt for more, puckering up his forehead in the search. He was quite sure there were two pieces, and he must hurry and get the last one. So he pulled and pawed and scratched and scrabbled over Jasper in his efforts to reach all his pockets that might be possible, Ben laughing as much as the other two in the process.
At last Polly looked up, "Oh, you are getting tired, Jasper," she exclaimed in dismay.
"I believe I am," confessed Jasper; "my sides fairly ache with the laughing. But don't take Jocko away," he said, clinging to him.
"Well, we ought to," said Ben, "for you are tired, and my sides ache, too."
"We might tie Jocko up for a while," suggested Polly, who hadn't the heart to go against Jasper's wish.
"That's it, tie him up till I'm a bit rested," said Jasper, eagerly. "Here, Jocko, go with your mistress," and he put the chain in Polly's hand.