Suddenly on the twilight calm of the library there arose a broken-hearted wail! Mildred had broken out into an abandon of grief. Her wails rent the air.
“Gee whilikins! I thought the Germans had come,” exclaimed Kent, jumping to his feet.
“My darling, what is it?” asked Mrs. Brown as Mildred clutched her around the neck.
“Oh, Granny, Granny! My muvver hates me!”
“Oh, Molly! What have you done to this angel?” asked the grandmother almost sternly.
“Nothing! I declare!”
“That’s jes’ it! She ain’t done nuffin! That shows she hates me. Kizzie done say, ‘Who de Lord loveneth he chases,’ an’ I done did the wussest thing I could do an’ my muvver she ain’t so much as said: ‘Why, Mildred!’ I wants to git spanked! I wants to git spanked!”
“Why, darling, what have you done?” asked Mrs. Brown, trying to control her risibles.
“I done shave-pated, number-eighted my little Haythen friend. Kizzie called Cho-Cho:
“‘Shave pate, number eight
Hit yo’ haid aginst the gate.’