CHAPTER IX.
THE NIGHT-WATCH.
TEDDY, waving the old palm-leaf fan up and down with as much care as
if it had carried the breath of life to his poor little charge, sat
for some time very quiet, listening to her wild prattle without
trying to interrupt it; until, after lying still for a few moments,
she suddenly fixed her eyes upon him, and said,--
"Oh! you're Peter Phinn, sister to Merry that weared a sun-bonnet,
ain't you?"
The question seemed so conscious and rational, that Teddy answered
eagerly,--
"No, honey; but I'm Teddy Ginniss; and I'm going to be your brother
forever and always. What's your name, sissy?"
"I'm Finny; no, I'm Cherrytoe,--I'm Cherrytoe, that dances. Want to
see me dance, Peter?"
As she spoke, she started up, and would have jumped out of bed; but
Teddy laid his hand upon her arm, and said soothingly,--
"No, no, sissy; not now. Another day you shall dance for Teddy, when
you're all well. And you mustn't call me Peter, 'cause I'm Teddy."
"Teddy, Teddy," repeated 'Toinette vaguely, and then, with a sudden
shrill laugh, shouted,--"'Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief;
Taffy came to my house and stole a piece of beef.' Guess you're
Taffy, ain't you?"
"No: I'm Teddy.
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