"Be me soul!" exclaimed Barney. "It's yersilf thot knows a hape more thin Oi thought yez did. Ye show yer good judgmint in surrunderin' to th' girruls, fer wan av thim alone wud capture yez av she set out to, an' ould Nick take th' countysoign—she wudn't nade it!"
Next the country lad was invited to sing, "to develop his vocal organs."
"Oh, say!" he awkwardly grinned. "I can't sing—I really can't, by gum!"
"Oh, you vos too modest alretty yet," declared Hans. "You peen goin' to ged ofer dot britty soon pime-by."
"But I hain't got no voice, an' I can't sing a tune no more than a mule kin."
"Me b'y," said Barney, "Oi admire yer modesty, but ye'll foind it necessary to sing fer th' intertainmint av Ould Gunn an' under professors av ye stay in th' academy, so ye moight as well begin now."
"You'll laff."
"Nivver moind that."
"It will sp'ile me so I can't sing. If I couldn't see ye laff I might do——"
"Dot vos all righdt," declared Hans. "You bet my life we been aple to feex dot britty soon right avay queek. Shust gif me your bocket handerkerchief."