“Oh, issums such cwoss old bear! Issums bad old bear! So cwoss with Lulukins!”
“Lulukins! Great John God!”
“Why, Elmer Gantry!” It was the Sunday School teacher who was shocked now. She sat up on her knees.
“Lulukins! Of all the damned fool baby-talk I ever heard that takes the cake! That’s got ’em all beat! For God’s sake try to talk like a human being! And don’t go squatting there. Suppose somebody came in. Are you deliberately going to work to ruin me? . . . Lulukins!”
She stood up, fists tight. “What have I done? I didn’t mean to hurt you! Oh, I didn’t, dearest! Please forgive me! I just came in to s’prise you!”
“Huh! You s’prised me all right!”
“Dear! Please! I’m so sorry. Why, you called me Lulukins yourself!”
“I never did!”
She was silent.
“Besides, if I did, I was kidding.”