“Be it thine to command,” said Wally, with meekness. “Mine to obey—when I’m ready.”
“Better make it convenient to be ready quickly,” warned Jim. “Otherwise——”
He left the sentence dramatically unfinished, and, finding a halfpenny lying on the mantelshelf, deftly inserted it into his friend’s collar as he passed him. Wally choked over his coffee, and fled in hot pursuit, clutching at his backbone as he went.
“Aren’t they cheerful babies!” said Norah, laughing. “I guess I’ll be grey-haired long before they grow up. Come on, Jeanie—I’ll race you getting ready!” The sound of their flying feet echoed down the corridor.
“ ‘Bless you, I’m not fighting—I’m watering the garden!’ ”