He stood behind Billy and they put the stays around both little bodies, while, with much squeezing and giggling, Billy hooked them safely up the front. The boys got in front of Sarah Jane's one looking-glass and danced about laughing with glee.
“We're like the twinses what was growed together like mama read me 'bout,” declared the younger child.
Presently they began to feel uncomfortable, especially Jimmy, whose fat, round little middle was tightly compressed.
“Here, unhook this thing, Billy, and le's take her off,” he said. “I'm 'bout to pop open.”
“All right,” agreed his companion.
He tugged and pulled, but could get only the top and bottom hooks unclasped; the middle ones refused to budge.
“I can't get these-here hooks to come loose,” Billy said.
Jimmy put his short, fat arms around him and tried his hand, but with no better success. The stays were such a snug fit that the hooks seemed glued.
“We sho' is in a fix,” said Billy gloomily; “look like God all time lettin' us git in trouble.”
“You think of more fool stunts to do, William Hill, than any boy they is,” cried the other; “you all time want to get us hooked up in Sarah Jane's corset and you all time can't get nobody loose. What you want to get us hooked up in this thing for?”