“priddy pussy”
The Fish was glaring at her in a horrified way, and Mrs. Putchy had become quite nervous.
“Let’s change the subject,” suggested the Doctor-in-Law, to our great relief. “The most important question for the moment is, where are we all going to sleep?”
This gave Mrs. Putchy an opportunity for exercising her wonderful ability for management, and after arranging for the Wallypug to have the spare bedroom, and the Doctor-in-Law to have my room, I was to have a bed made up in the study, while the Jubilee Rhymester was to sleep in the attic, One-and-Nine was to have a box under the stairs, and there only remained A. Fish, Esq., to dispose of.
“There is the bathroom, mum,” suggested General Mary Jane brilliantly; “we could put a lid on the bath and make up a bed there.”
“Bedder sdill, fill id with wadter, ad thed I could sleeb in id,” suggested the Fish.
“Oh yes, of course!” said Mrs. Putchy, “and now I must go and see about the supper.” And, with a low curtsey to the Wallypug, the admirable little woman hurried out, followed by General Mary Jane, who gave a nervous little bob when she reached the door.
They had scarcely disappeared before One-and-Nine came up to me and whispered:
“I am muchly impressionated by that lady with the most militaryish name who has just gone out. Can you kindly inform me is she detached?”