"Don't talk with your mouth full," ordered his father.
William looked at him coldly. A clown would not have said this. He wondered on what principle parents were chosen. He sometimes wished he had been given some voice in the choosing of his. There were one or two improvements he could think of. He swallowed with slow dignity. Then:
"There's a circus on the green," he announced again.
"Yes, dear," said his mother soothingly. "Ethel, pass the marmalade to your father. What were you saying, dear?"
Whereupon William's father proceeded with a monologue upon the Labour question that he had begun a few minutes previously. William sighed. He waited till the next pause.
"I'm goin' to the circus," he announced firmly.
That brought their attention to him.
"I don't see how you can, dear," said his mother slowly. "It's only staying for this afternoon and evening, and it's the dancing-class this afternoon——"
"Dancin'!" repeated William in horror. "Shurly you don't expect me to go to dancin', with a circus on the green?"
"I've paid for the twelve lessons," said Mrs. Brown firmly, "and Miss Carew is very particular about your not missing without a real excuse."