“ Um—ah—that is to say—er—notwithstanding, nevertheless, likewise also, and as is herein aforesaid,” began the Ki-Wi, in an important voice.
“Hold on!” cried Dick. “We can’t understand all that, you know. Why don’t you say what you have to say in English?”
“It is English,” declared the Ki-Wi, in an aggrieved voice, “and very good English too.”
“Of course it is,” chimed in the Sage.
“Well we don’t understand it, anyhow,” maintained Dick. “It doesn’t seem to mean anything at all.”
“Perhaps, Dick, dear,” said Marjorie, “Mr. Sage will explain it to us. Let’s see—it began——”
“”Notwithstanding, nevertheless, likewise, and as is herein aforesaid,”” repeated the Ki-Wi.
“Well, I’ll explain it, if you wish with pleasure,” said the Sage, “though I can’t see in the least why it should be necessary. It seems to me to perfectly simple. To begin with—‘Notwithstanding’ describes our position just now—Not-with-standing, or not standing with the Ki-Wi. He is standing, while we are sitting down, you see; then ‘nevertheless’ means of course the same as always-the-greater, which exactly describes me. You see, my great learning and cleverness always makes me greater than the people I am speaking to, and consequently never-the-less. The next word is also descriptive of myself. ‘Likewise,’ or like a wise man, which, I am sure, you will all agree that I am; and ”herein’ means that my brains are all in here,” said the Sage, tapping his head. “While ‘aforesaid’—the last word—means that I have a strong head, or a force-head, do you see?”
“Is the rest of the paper all about yourself, too, Sir?” asked Marjorie.
“Yes,” was the complacent reply. “Go on, Ki-Wi.”