“The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow,—

Not at all like proper children, which is always rather slow,”

piped Robin in his pretty treble.

“For he sometimes shoots up taller,——”

Mrs. Bo-gardus’s head tilted just a little to the left.

“Shoots?” queried Mrs. Hudson. “Are you sure of that word Shoots?”

Robin paused, and looked doubtfully at me.

“Yes,” I answered. “Shoots is right.”

“—like an india-rubber ball,”

continued Robin.