"That would be too much," returned the Idiot, "and I should really hesitate to eat too much spring chicken. I never did it in my life, and don't know what the effect would be. Would it be harmful, Doctor?"
"I really do not know how it would be," answered the Doctor. "In all my wide experience I have never found a case of the kind."
"It's very rarely that one gets too much spring chicken," said Mr. Whitechoker. "I haven't had any experience with patients, as my friend the Doctor has; but I have[Pg 124] lived in many boarding-houses, and I have never yet known of any one even getting enough."
"Well, perhaps we shall have all we want this morning," said Mrs. Smithers. "I hope so, at any rate, for I wish this day to be a memorable one in our house. Mr. Pedagog has something to tell you. John, will you announce it now?"
"Did you hear that?" whispered the Idiot. "She called him 'John.'"
"Yes," said the genial old gentleman. "I didn't know Pedagog had a first name before."
"Certainly, my dear—that is, my very dear Mrs. Smithers," stammered the School-master, getting red in the face. "The fact is, gentlemen—ahem!—I—er—we—er—that is, of course—er—Mrs. Smithers has er—ahem!—Mrs. Smithers has asked me to be her—I—er—I should say I have asked Mrs. Smithers to be my husb—my wife, and—er—she—"
"'HOORAH!' CRIED THE IDIOT, GRASPING MR. PEDAGOG BY THE HAND"