“Y-e-s. That you are, too; but—it isn’t that. The question is, What are you? Help her out, Stoffel.”
Between puffs of smoke, and with the air of a professor, Stoffel proceeded to “help”:
“Juffrouw Laps, I wished to know what you were from a zoölogical standpoint.”
“I won’t have anything more to do with it,” said Juffrouw Laps in the tone of one who feels that he is going to be insulted.
“I am a midwife,” said Mrs. Stotter, “and I’m going to stick to it.”
“And I am the baker’s wife,” cried Juffrouw Mabbel, with a positiveness in her tone which showed her intention to hold to this opinion.
“Certainly, certainly, Juffrouw Mabbel; but I mean from a zoölogical standpoint.”
“If it’s going to be indecent, I prefer to go home.”
“I, too,” added Juffrouwen Krummel and Zipperman. “We came here to be entertained.”
“But you’re not going to get angry about it! I tell you, it’s in the book, Stoffel—you will laugh when you hear it, Juffrouw Mabbel; and the best part of it is, that it’s in the book, and one can’t say anything against it. Tell her, Stoffel!”