"Look at him!" indicating his elder brother, and speaking with a tone of disgust and disparagement; "did you ever see such a beast as he looks?"
"Not often!" reply I, readily, with that fine intolerance which one never sees in full bloom after youth is past.
"I say, Nancy!" with a second and rather lesser nudge, "if ever you see any symptoms of—of that—" (nodding toward the pulpit) "in me—"
"If—" repeat I, scornfully, "of course I shall!"
"Well, that is as it may be, but if you do, mind what I tell you—do not say any thing to anybody, but—put an end to me! it does not matter how; smother me with bolsters; run your bodkin up to its hilt in me—"
"Even if I did," interrupt I, laughing, "I should never reach any vital part—you are much too fat!"
"I should not be so fat then," returns he, gravely, amiably overlooking the personality of my observation; "love would have pulled me down!"
The Brat has nearly finished. He is nimbly descending the ladder, with a long, guttering dip in his right hand.
"The other two—" begins Bobby, thoughtfully, turning his eyes from pulpit to font.
"I do not mind them half so much," interrupt I, indulgently; "they are not half so disgusting."