John, Alexander, listen—I am in no mood to be trifled with. Put down those squirming creatures and march to your bed!"
Giftie's hour had struck. It was no use rebelling. With bitter composure, we carried our beloved to the scullery, and laid them on the mat beside their mother. It was not until we were safe in bed that our pent up fury broke loose; and we pounded the pillows, and cursed the name of womankind.
Women! Tyrants! Mischievous busybodies!
"When I'm a man," said Angel, suddenly, "I'll marry a woman, and I'll beat her every day."
"Me too!" cried The Seraph, stoutly, "I'll mawy two—fat ones—an' beat 'em bofe."
For myself, I was inclined for an unhampered bachelorhood, but it soothed my wounded spirit to picture these three hapless females in the grip of Angel and The Seraph, and the music of their outcries lulled me fast asleep.
We found next morning that Mrs. Handsomebody and Mary Ellen had never gone back to bed all night, but had kept watch in the dining-room till daylight, when Mary Ellen had been dispatched to find a policeman. He was in the
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