Jim chuckled.
"What--Koko? Most harmless man on earth! Gets me out of scrapes, not into them!"
A fresh grievance now occurred to the Doctor. "I am not at all satisfied with the way you are working," he said.
"We dig in pretty hard at Matt's," replied Jim, quite truthfully.
"Yes--but how about your degree? I expect more than a mere qualification from you."
"I'll read like a nigger this time, grandfather----"
"I'm glad to hear you say so," interrupted the Doctor, in a mollified tone.
"Time and weather permitting," concluded Jim, indiscreetly.
A short, ill-tempered cough sounded through the telephone. The Doctor was preparing his ultimatum; Jim's addendum gave him his cue.
"I suppose 'time and weather' mean such dissolute companions as Coker, or whatever his absurd name is. Well, now, attend to me, James. I'm not squeamish, but I expect you to pull up. I won't have any more playing the fool, either at the hospital or down here. For instance," he added, with growing ire, "what on earth d'you mean by masquerading about the high road in a dressing-gown?"