After another dance (with more tearing to rags than before supper), they began to be fetched; and you will be very glad to be told that the tiresome fat boy who had been on his legs was walked off first without any ceremony. When they were all gone, poor Mrs. Alicumpaine dropped upon a sofa, and said to Mrs. Orange, 'These children will be the death of me at last, ma'am, – they will indeed!'
'I quite adore them, ma'am,' said Mrs. Orange; 'but they DO want variety.'
Mr. Orange got his hat, and Mrs. Orange got her bonnet and her baby, and they set out to walk home. They had to pass Mrs. Lemon's preparatory establishment on their way.
'I wonder, James dear,' said Mrs. Orange, looking up at the window, 'whether the precious children are asleep!'
'I don't care much whether they are or not, myself,' said Mr. Orange.
'James dear!'
'You dote upon them, you know,' said Mr. Orange. 'That's another thing.'
'I do,' said Mrs. Orange rapturously. 'O, I DO!'
'I don't,' said Mr. Orange.
'But I was thinking, James love,' said Mrs. Orange, pressing his arm, 'whether our dear, good, kind Mrs. Lemon would like them to stay the holidays with her.'
'If she was paid for it, I daresay she would,' said Mr. Orange.
'I adore them, James,' said Mrs. Orange, 'but SUPPOSE we pay her, then!'
This was what brought that country to such perfection, and made it such a delightful place to live in. The grown-up people (that would be in other countries) soon left off being allowed any holidays after Mr. and Mrs. Orange tried the experiment; and the children (that would be in other countries) kept them at school as long as ever they lived, and made them do whatever they were told.