In a moment, the door opened with a jerk and a push, and in bounded three boys, with as little display of manners or propriety as so many savages might exhibit.

The oldest directed his steps to the closet, singing, as he peered round among the eatables: "Eggs, cheese, butter, bread,-- Stick, stock, stone-dead." "Biddy," he continued, "I 'm hungry--give me something to eat, quick." Bridget paid no attention to this demand, but only twitched her needle with a little more energy.
"I say, Biddy," continued the boy, "what did you have for supper?
Come, give me some, I 'm half starved." "And why did n't ye come when the supper was ready, if ye wanted any ?" said Bridget.

"If ye won't ate with the rest, it's not me that will wait upon ye, Master Oscar." "Well," continued Oscar, "if you won't help me, I guess I can help myself.

Ralph, what did you have for supper ?" The boy addressed named over several articles, among which were cake and mince-pie, neither of which could Oscar find in the closet.
"Where did you put the pie, Biddy ?" he inquired.
"It 's where ye won't find it," replied Bridget, "that's jist where it is." "I bet I _will_ find it, come now," said Oscar, with a determined air; and he commenced the search in earnest, prying into every covered dish, opening every drawer and bucket, and overhauling and disarranging every part of the closet.

Bridget was just then in too irritable a mood to bear this provoking invasion of her realm with patience.