The King's English stared down at her. "How are you?" he said coldly.
"I'm awful uncomfortable," was the mournful answer.
"Then take off your stays," he advised. Whereat the polished tongue glanced through the light, caught Jane fairly around the waist, and with a swift recoil brought her to her feet!
And now Gwendolyn, astonished, saw that too much laughter had again remolded that sateen bulk. The nurse had grown woefully heavy about the shoulders—which put a fearful strain on the stitches of her bodice! and gave her the appearance of a gigantic humming-top! As she swayed a moment on her wide-toed shoes—shoes now utterly lacking buttons—the King's English again struck out, caught her, this time, around the neck, and sent her spinning through the Gate!
"Zing-g-g-g!" she laughed dizzily—that laugh the high, persistent note of a top!
Thomas attempted to follow. "I just will come in," he cried, wielding his warped weapon with a flourish.
"You shall not!" To bar the way, the King's English thrust out his polished tongue.
"I will!" Crack! Crack!
"You won't!" Crack! Crack!
The fight was on! For the combatants, tongue's-length from each other, were prowling to and fro menacingly.