Primmie was shocked. “Why, Zach Bloomer!” she exclaimed. “The idea of your talkin' so about a person's name you never met but just now in your lifetime.”
Zacheus regarded the owner of the name.
“No offense meant and none given, Mr. Bangs,” he observed. “Eh? That's right, ain't it?”
“Certainly, certainly, Mr. Bloomer. I'm not in the least offended.”
“Um-hm. Didn't cal'late you would be. Can't help our names, can we? If my folks had asked me aforehand I'd a-been named plain John. As 'tis, my name's like my legs, growed that way and it's too late to change.”
Galusha smiled.
“You're a philosopher, I see, Mr. Bloomer,” he said.
“He's assistant keeper over to the lighthouse,” explained Primmie. As before, Zach paid no heed.
“I don't know as I'd go so far as to call myself that,” he said. “When I went to school the teacher told us one time about an old critter who lived in a—in a tub, seem's if 'twas. HE was one of them philosophers, wan't he?”
“Yes. Diogenes.”