There was no answer.
“He seems to have gone away,” said the Doctor-in-law.
“Ha-ha-ha! then I can see it,” laughed the Royal Microscopist; “that is the joke. He waits till you want him, and then he goes away,—ha-ha-ha! Very funny, very funny indeed.”
“I don’t think it’s at all a good joke,” said Girlie.
“Of course not, my dear,” said the Royal Microscopist; “it’s a very bad joke, a very bad joke indeed, to run away just when we wanted him. But it’s very funny that one should not be able to see him till after he had gone; that’s really funny, very funny indeed—ha-ha-ha! hee-hee!”
“Don’t go on like that or you’ll have a fit,” remarked the Doctor-in-law crossly.
“Well, what if I do?” replied the Royal Microscopist. “I suppose I can have a fit, if I like. I’m not obliged to ask you, am I? I’ll have two, if I wish. I’ll have the measles, if I like, and I’ll have the scarlatina and the croup, if I want to—so there!” and the Royal Microscopist stamped his foot pettishly.
“Don’t be absurd,” said the Doctor-in-law; “and come along and buy your Excuse, or you will be too late.”
“Bless me, yes! so I will,” cried the Royal Microscopist.
