Fred looked up anxiously, for she had spoken quite seriously, without a
trace of fun in her tones.

"Oh, I didn't mean that," she said, laughing, as she observed her
mistake. "I was only thinking more of my receipt than of your bittern,
Fred."

"I'm glad you don't really think that birds lay flour and lemon-peel,"
said Fred, and went on:--

"'The flesh tastes of--'"

But the description was interrupted. Oscar and Emma came bursting into
the kitchen together, and while Oscar stood as close to his aunt, as he
could, on the right, Emma pulled her head down on the left and began
whispering into her ear. Between the two, she had hard work to keep on
with her pudding.

"Only think, aunty," began Oscar, "Feklitus says now that he won't have
our motto on the banner, that he has heard another that he likes a great
deal better. What do you say, aunty? What shall we do about it? You know
how cross he is when he is opposed, and he'll break off altogether."

"Emma, do be still a moment; I will listen to you presently. Now, Oscar,
what is this verse that Feklitus proposes; let us hear it and see if it
is a good one."

"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity;
With song and the juice of the vine,"