“But what’s happened to Miss Carrington?” asked Laura.
“She’s got some mighty smart scholars in the freshman class,” said Nellie. “The other day she asked them what two very famous men were boys together, and what do you suppose was the answer she got?”
“Give it up!” exclaimed Jess. “What was it?”
“One of those fresh squabs put up her hand and when Gee Gee nodded to her, she squeals: ‘Oh, I know, Miss Carrington! The Siamese Twins!’”
There were enough old folk aboard the steamboat to keep the exuberance of the boys and girls within bounds. Short and Long had brought with him his famous piratical wig and whiskers, and with these in place and an old red sash-curtain draped about him, he looked more like a gnome than ever, he was so little. The girls dressed up a stateroom for him, into which he retired and told fortunes. And as Billy Long did not lack in wit he told some funny ones.
This was one of the few occasions when Alice Long, Billy’s busy sister, had escaped from her manifold home duties to join in the “high jinks” of her schoolmates. When they were all laughing at Billy’s antics and prophecies, Laura said to Alice:
“How do you ever manage to get along with those children, Alice? Tommy is as full of mischief as Billy, isn’t he?”
“He’s worse,” sighed the big sister; yet she smiled, too. “Tommy’s pretty cute, just the same. He had a birthday last week, and Dr. Agnew came through our street going to see Johnny Doyle.
“‘Hullo, Doctor!’ Tommy called to him. ‘I gotter birfday.’
“‘You have!’ exclaimed the doctor, apparently very much astonished.‘How many birthdays does that make?’