"You are my guest, and manners forbid. We will change the subject, if you please."
"Manners didn't forbid your chucking the Charmer into the drink!" said Jack. "Ho! did you see him blink when he came up? It was worth while, Jerry, even if I have to fight you, but I don't believe I shall. You see, your father had to go off, and he asked me to keep the peace, and I said I would; and I didn't see any other way, wildcat that you are. A sweet condition the Charmer would have been in to go back to his Mamma, if I had not done as I did!"
"I might have known the Pater was at the bottom of it!" said Gerald, his face lightening, and his voice taking on its own kindly ring. "Fine man; but the extent to which he won't let me thrash Claud is simply disgusting. When it comes to setting a Megatherium on a man—"
"And to the Megatherium sitting on the man—" said Jack, laughing.
"No more o' that, Jack, if thou love me! There's the horn! Come on, and let that flint-hearted parent see that we are all right."
The pair strolled in to supper, arm in arm, singing, to the tune of "Home, Sweet Home!"
"Claud, Claud, sweet, sweet Claud!
There's no ass like Claud,
There is no ass like Claud!"
and were promptly silenced by Mrs. Merryweather.