hem."

"Yes, I guess that would be best--to sell them," agreed Mr. Martin, but
he did not let the Curlytops hear him say this.

Led by Mrs. Watson, the Curlytop party entered the house. As the door was
opened the different noises sounded more loudly than before.

The dogs barked--and Ted could now hear the tones of two different
animals--the cat mewed, the monkey screeched and chattered, and the
parrot cried:

"Give Polly a cracker! Polly wants a crack-crack-cracker!"

"I guess the alligator is the only one that isn't saying anything,"
remarked Mr. Martin to his wife as they entered. "And I never heard that
alligators make a noise."

"Yes they do!" said Janet, eagerly. "I read it in my natural history
book. They make a noise like a grunt. At least it's either alligators or
crocodiles, I've forgotten which. But one kind bellows like a bull."

"Goodness! Let us hope this one doesn't!" sighed Mrs. Martin. "Who would
ever think that Uncle Toby would keep a menagerie!" she murmured.

"I never did," agreed her husband.

"They're all in one big room--a sort of addition to the house. It opens
off the dining room," explained Mrs. Watson. "Uncle Toby liked to eat
when his pets did, that's why he had 'em so near him in the dining room.
I'll show 'em to you."

"Are the pigeons out there, too?" asked Mrs. Martin.

"No, Uncle Toby kept them in the barn," the housekeeper replied. "If you
don't want the pigeons, Uncle Toby told me to tell you there's a boy in
this same street who will take them. But Uncle Toby said he wished you'd
take charge of all the other pets."

"Oh, yes, Mother--Daddy! Let's keep 'em _all_!" pleaded Janet.

By this time Mrs. Watson had opened the door leading into the extra room
that Uncle Toby had built to house his pets. No sooner was the door
opened than the noise sounded louder than ever, and several things
happened.

"Oh, look at the lovely cat!" cried Janet, as one with very fluffy fur
walked forward as though to meet the Curlytops. "It's a Persian, I guess.
Oh, I just love a Persian! Turnover is very nice, but I love this one a
lot," and she reached down to stroke the beautiful cat that seemed very
friendly.

"Oh, look!" suddenly cried Ted. "See! The dogs do tricks!"

As he spoke one white poodle came walking along on his hind legs, with
his front paws held in a funny fashion before him.

"Bow wow!" barked the poodle. And then, as if this might be a signal,
there suddenly came from the