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           "Kneesbend!"sheshriekedandcurtsiedprettily. ThenshesmiledatMrs.Settergrenandsaidinherordinaryvoice, "Yousee,Iamreallyveryshy,soifIdidn’tgivemyselfsomecommandsI’djuststandinthehallandnotdaretocomein. 

           Thensherusheduptotheotherladiesandkissedthemonthecheek. 

           "Charming,charming,uponmyhonor!"saidshe, forshehadonceheardastylishgentlemansaythattoalady. Thenshesatdowninthebestchairshecouldfind. Mrs.SettergrenhadintendedthechildrentohavetheirpartyupinTommy’sandAnnika’sroom, butPippistayedcalmlyinherchair,slappedherselfontheknee, andsaid,lookingatthecoffeetable, "Thatcertainlylooksgood.Whendowebegin?" 

           AtthatmomentElla,themaid,cameinwiththecoffeepot, andMrs.Settergrensaid,"Pleasecomeandhavesomecoffee." 

           "First!"criedPippiandwasupbythetableintwoskips. Sheheapedasmanycakesasshecouldontoaplate,threwfivelumpsofsugarintoacoffeecup, emptiedhalfthecreampitcherintohercup, andwasbackinherchairwithherlootevenbeforetheladieshadreachedthetable. 

           Pippistretchedherlegsoutinfrontofherandplacedtheplateofcakesbetweenhertoes. Thenshemerrilyclunkedcakesinhercoffeecupandstuffedsomanyinhermouthatoncethatshecouldn’thaveutteredawordnomatterhowhardshetried. Inthetwinklingofaneyeshehadfinishedallthecakesontheplate. Shegotup,strucktheplateasifwereatambourine,andwentuptothetabletoseeiftherewereanycakesleft. Theladieslookeddisapprovinglyather,butthatdidn’tbotherher.