"Another wonderful thing happened. Mrs. Warburton fell in love with the kids, and they with her. She romped with them on the lawn; she took them out to ride every day; she put them to bed every night; she insisted upon buying their clothes; she bought them a pony an' a little omnibus; she built them a playhouse for their comfort. The whole villa began to revolve around the children. They called her mama an' they called me papa, a sufficiently singular situation.
VI
IN WHICH THE PURSUIT OF LIZZIE BECOMES HIGHLY SERIOUS
Dan had been out of town, an' immediately on his return he came to my office.
"'How's business?' I asked.
"'Well, the ham war was a little hard on us, but we're picking up,' says he. 'They're still selling hams way below a decent price over at Henshaw's. I don't see how they can do it.'
"'I do,' I says.
"'Please explain," says Dan.
"'Don't you know that Lizzie was buyin' most o' those hams that you sold way below the wholesale price, an' that she's now makin' a good profit on 'em?' I says.
"'Great Scott!' Dan exclaimed, as he sank in a chair.