“Will you be quiet?” demanded the mother.
“We will be du-u-mb!”
When they became so, at the verge of their mother's patience, of which they knew the limits, she went on: “I think Dan had better get married at once.”
“There, Minnie!”
“But what does Dan say?”
“I will—make the sacrifice,” said Dan meekly.
“Noble boy! That's exactly what Washington said to his mother when she asked him not to go to sea,” said Minnie.
“And then he went into the militia, and made it all right with himself that way,” said Eunice. “Dan can't play his filial piety on this family. Go on, mother.”
“I want him to bring his wife home, and live with us,” continued his mother.
“In the L part!” cried Minnie, clasping her hands in rapture. “I've always said what a perfect little apartment it was by itself.”