Page:The romance of Runnibede (IA romanceofrunnibe00rudd).pdf/71

that everything was quite all right, that they needn't be afraid, was more enjoyable than any comedy. But laws! what a surprise Ted and I got when, from the sofa where we were doing penance by having to learn pages of history, we sew those ladies stealing in with only ’possum skin girdles on them. Gee!

"Will you boys please go on with your books, and behave yourselves?" Mother frowned at us. Mother would always have us keep silent and pro- per in the home when she had visitors. No sooner were the gins right inside, gazing at every bit of furniture with the bewildered glances of yarded brumbies, than grandfather’s clock began to strike the hour, Heavens! Mrs. Combo and Mrs. Curricomb and Mrs. Captain must have thought it was the voice of Old Nick. They let out a wild whoop and tried to get out of the house, but in their bewilderment couldn’t find a hole anywhere to go out by, for the door had closed. If they had suspicions before, they were positive now, that they were trapped. For a moment their eyes rolled wildly about in their sockets, their tight held lips projected, then in an outburst of violent yabbering they exchanged views with each other on the situation, and while they yabbered they shook and trembled all over, and it’s different watching women who’ve only got a ’possum skin girdle on, trembling all over, to what it is watching these who are covered in petticoats and things—so Ted and I found out. And how we ourselves shook with mirth behind those history books. Often have I wondered since if our merriment really helped to allay or increase