"It's evident that it will be needed again to-morrow," said the doctor, regarding the cakes with a lowering brow.
"Never mind—it'll be worth it," Garth rejoined. "Anyhow, I know you're only pulling my leg!"
"The attitude of disrespect shown by one's patients is very distressing," said the doctor, subsiding into a low chair and accepting tea. "Go on, young man: don't blame me when you find the castor-oil bottle looming by your bed of pain! Then you'll wish that you had stuck to good old bread-and-butter, and you'll send for me."
"Well, you'd come," said Garth comfortably.
"I would not. I would send back a stern message—'Double dose of oil.'"
"Then I'd better have a double go of cake," said Garth. "Bettern't I, Dad?"
"Most certainly, I should say," his father answered. "It's a sound rule not to mind paying for your fun." He held the plate for Garth's inspection. "There's one in the corner, with an enormous blob of icing: it looks pretty good."
"It is," said Garth, digging his sharp little teeth into it, with a rapt expression.
"A nice pair, you are!" quoth the doctor, regarding them with a twinkle in his eye. "Not that I can blame the son, seeing what his father is. I pity you, Aileen: you'll have a hard time with them when you get to the Back of Beyond."
"Oh, did you know we were going there?" Garth queried eagerly. "Isn't it lovely, Doctor! I'm going to have a pony, Dad b'lieves. Will you come and see it?"