That little lady, thus appealed to, firmly placed another farthing on the board, and said in the tiniest but most decided of voices, "TWO FLAT IRONS, IF YOU PLEASE." Hereupon the shopman produced a drawer from below the counter, and set it before them.

What it contained I was not tall enough to see, but out of it he took several tiny flat irons of triangular shape, and apparently made of pewter, or some alloy of tin.

These the grey beaver examined and tried upon a corner of her cape with inimitable gravity and importance.

At last she selected two, and keeping one for herself, gave the other to her sister.
"Is it a nice one ?" the little white-beavered lady inquired.
"Very nice." "_Kite_ as nice as yours ?" she persisted.
"Just the same," said the other, firmly.

And having glanced at the corner to see that the farthings were both duly deposited, she rolled abruptly over on her seat, and scrambled off backwards, a manoeuvre which the other child accomplished with more difficulty.