“TIME—DECORATOR”
decided for him which would be best, in point of fact she managed everything,
The Major looked rather disturbed and unhappy about it all, but Minora was thoroughly enjoying herself.
“Suppose we had two labels for each bar,” she said, “the children would think it great fun.”
“It would be very confusing,” said the Major; “but it is allconfusing.”
“Oh, no,” said Minora. “Let me show you. I will be back in one minute,” she called to the men and boys. Then, putting Father Time’s wand down on the top step, she ran indoors and shut the front door.
“Now, watch me,” she said. “We will have two labels, ‘Andante’ and ‘Presto’—slowly and quickly they mean, you know—on the first flight of stairs. Then we should have to go slowly up the first two steps, and very quickly up the next two Hullo! What is the matter outside?”
She threw the front door open and nearly tumbled over one of the Crotchets, who was standing on the top step waving Father Time’s wand in the air, shouting at the top of his voice, “Come on, come on, I won’t have Semibreves or Minims. I will have Semi-demi-semi-quavers, and see how the silly old man.”
Then he saw Minora and the Major.
“What are you doing?” said Minora.
“We are coming into the house,” cried the Crotchet. “Come on, come on,” he shouted to the others.
“You shan’t come in,” said Minora, and seizing Major C’s arm, she dragged him inside and banged the door.
He sank down on the first stair.
“What is the matter?” he said.
The Crotchet was hammering on the door, and all the others were shouting.
“Tell them to go away, Minora,” said the Major. “Tell them I will have nothing at all done to my house. Why, oh why, did you ever ask them to come?”
