"What do you do with your head when it isn't on your shoulders?" he asked, with the innocent expression always to be seen upon his face when he was creating the greatest awkwardness.
At this question Briggs became scarlet, looked as if she were about to speak, then appeared to alter her mind, and, turning her back, busied herself arranging the medicine-bottles on a little table near the crib. The doctor himself appeared more bewildered than anything else.
"What do you mean?" he said. "Where can my head be except on my shoulders?"
"Well, that was what I thought," Chris said, triumphantly. "I said you'd be dead if your head was off your shoulders."
"I should have concluded that everyone must have been of the same opinion," he said, still mystified, whilst Granny shook her head gently, and frowned at the little beggar, hoping to prevent any further discussion of the subject. A futile hope. Chris was resolved to go to the bottom of the matter.
"Well, Briggs said it wasn't!" he exclaimed, "and what did she mean?"
The doctor's expression of mystification changed to one of annoyance, as he remarked with no little displeasure:
"I think you had better ask Briggs herself for an explanation of her remark," then left, accompanied by Granny—poor Granny, awkward and mortified beyond measure at the embarrassing situation.
As for Briggs—who had certainly been the principal sufferer—her indignation burst out as soon as we saw the last of the doctor.
"Well, I never!" she exclaimed indignantly. Then with increased wrath, "Well, I never did!" After which two exclamations she paused to find suitable words in which to condemn the enormities of which Chris had been guilty.