Boom bought a rat trap,
Bigger than a bat trap——”
But here he was profoundly annoyed by the conduct of the homely little girl. She darted out of her gate, ran to the middle of the street and pranced behind him in outrageous mockery. In a thin and straining voice, altogether inappropriate for the representation of a drum-corps, she piped:
“Boom bought a rat trap,
Bigger than a bat trap,
Bigger than a cat trap!
Boom!”
Laurence turned upon her. “For heavenses’ sakes!” he said. “My good-nuss, Daisy Mears, haven’t you got any sense? For heavenses’ sakes, pull up your ole stockin’s!”
“I won’t,” Miss Mears returned with instant resentment. “I guess you can’t order me around, Mister Laurence Coy! I doe’ know who ever ’pointed you to be my boss! Besides, only one of ’em’s fell down.”
“Well, pull it up, then,” he said crossly. “Or else don’t come hangin’ around me!”