"I dote on fountain-pens," began Hippo.
"Hippo's under my protection," said Skippy militantly. "We're sort of related."
"Oh well, let's eat then," said Macnooder with a reluctant look.
"Don't take anything from that fellow even if he gives it to you," said Skippy in a whisper to Hippo. "Elucidations later."
Al had two attitudes of welcome, according to the record of the books, one in which the hand advanced impulsively and a smile broke from under the shaggy yellow bang and another where the hand remained in a stationary receptive cup, or sometimes caressed the limp ends of the mustache in a way most discouraging and disheartening to the delinquent debtor. When Doc Macnooder arrived, however, he paid him the further honor to carefully close the glass cases where éclair and fruit cake were waiting the call to service, and braced himself against the counter.
"Hello, Al," said Skippy affably, "here we are again. Set 'em up four times."
"I see you and I see that there Doc Macnooder," said Al in an unconvinced sort of way.
"Set 'em up," said Macnooder in an encouraging tone.
"Who's settin' 'em up?" said Al, resorting to his toothpick.
Macnooder looked at Skippy, Skippy looked at Snorky, then all three looked at Hippo.