and John sipped his tea with an air of reposeful rapture , which was of very short duration however , for as he put down his cup , the door handle rattled mysteriously , and a little voice was heard , saying impatiently ... `` Opy doy . Me 's tummin ! '' `` It 's that naughty boy . I told him to go to sleep alone , and here he is , downstairs , getting his death a-cold pattering over that canvas , '' said Meg , answering the call . `` Mornin ' now , '' announced Demi in joyful tone as he entered , with his long nightgown gracefully festooned over his arm and every curl bobbing gayly as he pranced about the table , eyeing the ` cakies ' with loving glances . `` No , it is n't morning yet . You must go to bed , and not trouble poor Mamma . Then you can have the little cake with sugar on it . '' `` Me loves Parpar , '' said the artful one , preparing to climb the paternal knee and revel in forbidden joys . But John shook his head , and said to Meg ... `` If you told him to stay up there , and go to sleep alone , make him do it , or he will never learn to mind you . '' `` Yes , of course . Come , Demi , '' and Meg led her son away , feeling a strong desire to spank the little marplot who hopped beside her , laboring under the delusion that the bribe was to be administered as soon as they reached the nursery . Nor was he disappointed , for that shortsighted woman actually gave him a lump of sugar , tucked him into his bed , and forbade any more promenades till morning . `` Iss ! '' said Demi the perjured , blissfully sucking his sugar , and regarding his first attempt as eminently successful . Meg returned to her place , and supper was progressing pleasantly , when the little ghost walked again , and exposed the maternal delinquencies by boldly demanding , `` More sudar , Marmar . '' `` Now this wo n't do , '' said John , hardening his heart against the engaging little sinner . `` We shall never know any peace till that child learns to go to bed properly . You have made a slave of yourself long enough . Give him one lesson , and then there will be an end of it .
Put him in his XXXXX and leave him , Meg . ''
bed bribe call death desire glances knee nursery slave tone