"Why, Marjorie Midget Mopsy Maynard! What's this I hear about your deserting your home and family?"
"Oh, Father dear, isn't it terrible!"
"Why, I don't know as it is. You'll have a fine visit with your little friend, and you won't have to go to school, and I should think you'd have a fine time! But some people are never satisfied!"
"Now, don't tease, Father. You know I'll just go crazy with homesickness to see you all again!"
"Oh, well, if you really do go crazy, I'll put you in a nice pretty little lunatic asylum that I know of. But before your mind is entirely gone, I want you to have a good time with Delight, and I'll help all I can."
"I don't see how you can help much, if I can't see you."
"You don't, eh? Well, you'll find out, later on. But just now, I'm going to give you three rules, and I want you to obey them. Will you?"
"Of course I will, Father. What are they?"
"First, never think for a moment that you're going to catch that sore throat that the cook's little boy has. I don't think you are, and I don't want to think so. Promise?"
"Yes, I promise. What next?"