R.--Oh, Mammy, I have such a good idea! Let's have them both, one at each end, and then we can both pour out tea.
(_They put tea-pots on table. They walk round the table looking at them. The_ MOTHER _goes on writing_.)
R.--Oh, this is capital. Now, we must get the things to eat. We shall want milk and sugar.
R.--And jam and cakes, perhaps--because, as it is our own tea-party, it ought to be a grand one.
R.--I've got some sugar that I put in my pocket this morning for the raven.
(_Feels in his pocket, and brings out string, knife, etc., finally four lumps of sugar, one at a time._)
R.--I wonder how many Mammy will want. Mammy, do you like your tea very, very sweet?
R.--Oh, that's capital. Now, Janet, we can have two lumps each, one in each cup of tea. You can't have more. It's horrid to be greedy, you know.
J.--(_With a sigh._) Well, I suppose that will have to do.
R.--Now, there's the milk, we'll ask the cook for that.
J.--And we shall want some spoons and knives.
J.--I should like to have some toast, too.
R.--We'll ask nurse to make that, they make such nice toast in the nursery.
R.--And the jam. We must ask Mammy what we may have. Mammy!
R.--We may have some biscuits and some cakes, as well as bread and butter, mayn't we?
M.--Oh yes, you may look in the dining-room cupboard for what you want, if you don't take too much.
M.--(_Alone._) Perhaps in the meantime I shall be able to add up my accounts!
(_Writes intently. After a minute the children burst in again, carrying spoons, and knives, and plates._)
R.--Oh, Mammy, there are such a lot of things in the dining-room cupboard, we don't know which to choose.
R.--I suppose you're too busy, aren't you?
M.--Oh, I daresay I can manage it. (_Gets up._)
R.--(_Who is laying the table._) You know really, Mammy, the best thing would be that you should look into the dining-room cupboard, while Janet and I finish the table; we are so very busy, you see.
M.--(_Smiling._) I will go and look in the cupboard and see what I can find. (_Exit_ MOTHER.)
R.--Now, this is getting on splendidly, isn't it Janet? Let me see, have we remembered everything?
J.--I think so. The cook is making the tea and getting the milk.
R.--Susan is cutting the bread and butter.
R.--Mammy is choosing the cakes and the jam. I must say I do feel proud of doing it all by ourselves, without giving anybody extra trouble.