“‘How many times do you want me to tell it?’
“‘Only once.’
“‘Haven’t I told you more than once?’
“‘Answer the question, madame,’ said Flipout, while he rubbed his nose unusually hard.
“‘What was the question?’ inquired Miss Tadpoddle as she looked daggers at Lottie.
“‘I asked you how you could swear it was not somebody else you saw in the garden.’
“‘I never said I could swear it was not somebody else.’
“‘Very well; then can you swear that it was Miss Bramlett?’
“‘You can’t make me swear a lie if you work on me till Gabriel comes with his trumpet!’
“‘I do not want you to swear falsely; I would much rather hear you swear the truth.’