“Why I don’t know,” said Beechnut, doubtfully. “I don’t know how many childish things it is necessary for a boy to do, in order to be considered as childish in character; but I have known you to do two childish things within half an hour.”
Phonny seemed a little surprised and a little confused at this, and after a moment’s pause he said:
“I know what one of them is, I guess.”
“What?” asked Beechnut.
“Swinging on the gate.”
“No,” said Beechnut, “I did not mean that. You have done things a great deal more childish than that.”
“What?” said Phonny.
“The first was,” said Beechnut, “making a dispute with Malleville, by appealing to me to decide whether you were childish.”
“Why I ought to know if I am childish,” said Phonny, “so that if I am, I may correct the fault.”
“I don’t think that that was your motive,” said Beechnut, “in asking. If you had wished to know my opinion in order to correct yourself of the fault, you would have asked me some time privately. I think that your motive was a wish to get a triumph over Malleville.”