“Finished, dear?” said his mother. “You’ve not been long.”
“No,” said William, “I kind of worked hard an’ got it finished quick.... Mother, don’t you kind of think you’d like another gardener ’stead of Jenkins?”
“Why ever?” said his mother in surprise.
“Well, he always seems so sort of disagreeable an’ this man——”
“What man?”
“This man I keep tellin’ you about,” said William patiently, “he’s an abs’lutely wonderful man. He can do anythin’. He can drive a car ... he’s the one what’s goin’ to drive our car ... an’—an’ there’s nothin’ he can’t do, look after clothes an’ people what are queer in the head an’—an’—she was ever so nice an’ cryin’.”
“William, dear,” said Mrs. Brown, “I really don’t know what you’re talking about, but before you do anything else go and wash your hands and brush your hair.”
William sighed as he went to obey. His family seemed to have no souls above hands and hair and that sort of thing.
******
The Outlaws met the next afternoon to report progress.