e, while the middle was piled high with
oozing chunks of comb. He placed it on the bench beside him. The eyes
of Susan opened wide as she saw this sight. He talked about one thing
and another and asked her many inconsequential questions. After much
tantalizing talk on Mr. Hicks's part, she learned that the honey was
for her and that she was to take it all home with her.

Susan was for starting home at once.

"What' s your hurry, Susie? Won't you stay a while and have a piece of
pie?"

"I 'd rather I 'd have a pancake," said Susan, looking furtively at the
smoking griddle.

He rose at once and put on a large spoonful of batter. When the cake
was ready to turn, he caused it to turn a somersault with a quick toss
of the griddle; then he spread it evenly with honey and rolled it into
the form of a cylinder with the honey inside.

"There, now, Susie. That's what I call a joof-lickum _tamale_. It's
pancake _de la verandah_. Watch out that you don't burn your fingers."

He set the griddle temporarily aside and sat down again. While Susan
ate, she leaned across his tall knee and looked up at him admiringly.

"I like your pancakes," she volunteered. "Your pancakes has got fringe
on them."

Mr. Hicks's countenance took on more of an expression around the eyes;
he regarded her with deep interest.

"All the boys at school like your pancakes, too," she continued. "They
are coming over some other recess when you are home, and you can make
them all a pancake again. Will you put honey on their pancakes?"

"For boys!" exclaimed Susan's heroine in great surprise. "No honey for
boys. Honey is only for girls."

"And mas too," added Susan. "Ain't honey for mas too?"

"Does n't your ma make them with fringe on?" inquired Jonas, in hope of
making a new start.

Susan vouchsafed no reply. The subject stood in abeyance while she
feasted and took thought. Presently her attention rested upon the
griddle. On it there was a diminutive pancake which had made itself
from the drippings of an overgenerous spoonful.

"I like little pancakes too," she hinted.

Jonas took it off and presented it to her.

"There, Susie. When you go home you can give that to your dollie."

Susan's eyes seemed to expand as she turned them up to Mr. Hicks, the
source of supernal illumination. If the pancake had seemed desirable,
this wonderful _idea_ was ten times as much of a present. Her bliss
grew visibly deeper as she looked first