Beth was eating cold beef stolidly, but without much appetite because of her cold, and also because there was hot chicken, and Uncle James had not given her her choice. Uncle James kept looking at her. He found it hard to let her alone, but she gave him no cause of offence for some time. Her little nose was troublesome, however, and at last she sniffed. Uncle James looked at Lady Benyon. "Have you observed," he said, "that when a child has a cold she never has a pocket-handkerchief?" Beth produced a clean one with a flourish, and burst out laughing. "What's the matter, Puck?" Lady Benyon asked, beaming already in anticipation. "Oh, nothing. Only I said Uncle James would say that if I sniffed. Didn't I, Mildred?" But Mildred, too wary to support her, looked down demurely. "Puck," said Lady Benyon, "you're a character." "There are good characters and there are bad characters," Uncle James moralised. "Arrah, thin, it isn't a bad character you'd be afther givin' your own niece," Beth blarneyed; and then she turned up her naughty eyes to the ceiling and chanted softly: "What will Jimmie-wimmie give his duckie-dearie to be good? A nice--sweet--kiss!" Uncle James's big white face became suddenly empurpled. "Gracious! he's swallowed wrong," Lady Benyon exclaimed in alarm. "Drink something. You really should be careful, a great fat man like you." Uncle James coughed hard behind his handkerchief, then began to recover himself. Beth's eyes were fixed on his face. Her chaunt had been a sudden inspiration, and its effect upon the huge man had somewhat startled her; but clearly Uncle James was afraid she was going to tell. "How funny!" she ejaculated. Uncle James gasped again. "What _is_ the matter, Puck?" Lady Benyon asked. "Oh, I was just thinking--thinking I would ask Uncle James to give Mildred some chicken." "Why, of course, my dear child!" Uncle James exclaimed, to everybody's astonishment. "And have some yourself, Beth?" "No, thank you," Beth answered. "I'm full." "Beth!" her mother was beginning, when she perceived that Uncle James was laughing. "Now, that child is really amusing," he said--"_really_ amusing." No one else thought this last enormity a happy specimen of her wit, and they looked at Uncle James, who continued to laugh, in amazement. "Beth," he said, "when luncheon is over I shall give you a picture-book." Beth accordingly had to stay behind with him after the others had left the dining-room. "Beth," he began in a terrible voice, as soon as they were alone together, trying to frighten her; "Beth, what were you doing last night?" "I was meditating among the tombs," she answered glibly; "but I never heard them called by that name before." "You bad child, I shall tell your mamma." "Oh for shame!" said Beth. "Tell-tale! And if you tell I shall. I saw you kissing Jenny-penny."