"She's lovin' mit him und he's loving mit her. They've got loving looks. I had once a auntie—"
This was too much for the torn spirit of the Leader of the Line. He laid violent hands—and feet—upon the Monitor of Gold Fish. The Monitor of Window Boxes promptly followed suit. Morris's prolonged yell of agonized surprise brought Teacher flying to the rescue. And Teacher brought Doctor Ingraham. While the latter held and restrained Patrick and Nathan, Miss Bailey lavished endearments and caresses on her favourite. The captor grew as restless as his captives under this aggravation, and at last allowed his charges to escape.
"Look here!" he remonstrated; "I can't stand this sort of thing, you know. It's cruel."
But Teacher's ears were all for Morris's tale of sorrow.
"I don't know what is mit Patrick," he was saying. "He hits me a hack somethin' fierce sooner I says about mine auntie. Und Nathan, too, is bad boys. He says you lies."
"I?" said Teacher; "I?"
"Yiss ma'an, that's how he says. On'y I know you don't lies. I know we should be monitors like you says."
"When, dearie?"
"On your weddinge. You know you says me, und Patrick, und Nathan, should be monitors on your weddinge when you marries mit him." And Morris stretched a pointing finger at the foe. After one radiant glance at Teacher's face, Doctor Ingraham possessed himself of the scrubby hand and shook it warmly.
"And so you shall, old chap," he cried, "so you shall. You may be best man if you so desire. Anything you like."