Then the three friends ate their dinner, and very merry they were over it.

Hildegarde crowned Pink with the pine-tassel wreath, and declared that she looked like a priestess of Diana.
"No, she don't," said Bubble, looking up from his cold chicken; "she looks like Lars Porsena of Clusium sot in his ivory cheer, on'y she ain't f'erce enough.

Hold up yer head, Pinky, an' look real savage, an' I'll do Horatius at the Bridge." Pink did her best to look savage, and Zerubbabel stood up and delivered "Horatius" with much energy and appropriate action, to the great amusement of his audience.

A stout stick, cut from a neighboring thicket, served for the "good Roman steel;" and with this he cut and slashed and stabbed with furious energy, reciting the lines meanwhile with breathless ferocity.

He slew the "great Lord of Luna," and on the imaginary body he-- "Right firmly pressed his heel, And thrice and four times tugged amain, Ere he wrenched out the steel." But when he cried-- "What noble Lucumo comes next To taste our Roman cheer ?" the puppy, who had been watching the scene with kindling eyes, and ears and tail of eager inquiry, could bear it no longer, but flung himself valiantly into the breach, and barked defiance, dancing about in front of Horatius and snapping furiously at his legs.