Uncle Rufus dropped his newspaper upon his knee with a roguish smile.
“Teddy, will you believe me if I say he did?”
“No, sir: I can’t believe you,” said Teddy stoutly, “because there’s no common sense in saying a dog talks.”
“Then I sha’n’t say it.”
“O Nunky, that’s too, too bad!” cried Posy.
“Up and down mean!” cried Pollio; “for you heard him talk.”
“I, my child? Why, I never heard a dog talk in my life!”
“O Nunky, Nunky Gilman! When you were the very one that sat right there and looked straight at Beppo, and heard him say, ‘Your papa w’ipped me.’”
“I heard him say nothing of the kind,” returned uncle Rufus, rising, and planting himself on the rug, with his arms folded.