“That’s the hardest riddle ever was,” cried the boy. “I have to guess what the riddle is, and then what the answer is.”
“You will never, never know.”
“May we ask twenty questions about it?” said Dick. “Animal, vegetable, or mineral?”
“I should be puzzled. To what kingdom do morals belong?”
“Why, who ever heard of mineral or vegetable morals?”
“The last might admit of illustration,” said Miss Anne; and she began to consider within herself the people she knew who had what she called vegetable morals.
“Is there a man in your riddle?” cried Jack.
“A Boss-town man,” said Dick, with a grin.
“Pinch him, Jack,” said Rose.
“Oh!” cried Dick, responsive to the promptly applied punishment, and making a wry face. “You would be awfully good at a Jersey courtship, Rose, especially if you got Jack to help.”