time I look at
somebody it's someone else and that makes me nervous."

"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.

"Did you know his long suit when you bought him?" Clover asked Burnett.

"No," said Burnett; "they told me that he didn't use slang and that was
all."

It was well along in the evening--or night--and a brisk discussion arose as
to where to go next.

"I'll tell you," said Clover, "we'll take a ride. Let me see what time is
it?--12.30. Just the time for a drive. We'll take three cabs and sally
forth and drive up and down and back and forth in the cool night air."

"And jews-harps!" cried Burnett. "Oh, I say, there's a bully idea! We'll
go to a drug store and buy some jews-harps and play on them as we drive
along. We'll each sing our own tune, and the effect will be so novel.
Let's do it."

"Jews-harps--" said Clover thoughtfully, "jews-harps for three cabs--that'll
make--let me see--that'll make--" he hesitated.

"Oh, the driver will make the change," said Burnett impatiently. "Come on.
If we're going to have the cabs and jews-harps it's time to get out and
take the stump in the good cause."

"Where's my ear-trumpet?" said Aunt Mary, blankly,--"it's been left
somewhere."

"No, it hasn't," said Mitchell. "It's here! I'm holding it for you. It's
much easier holding it than picking it up. It seems so slippery to-night."

"I'm not going out to get the cabs," said Clover. "I thought of the idea
and someone else must work it out. I'm opposed to working after time and I
call time at midnight."

Mitchell rose with a depressed air.

"I'll go," he said. "I feel the need of a walk. When I feel the need of
anything I always take it and I've needed and taken so freely to-night
that I need to take a walk to--"

"I don't think it funny to talk that way," said Burnett a little heatedly.
"If you want to get the cabs why get the cabs. I'm going to get them, too,
and I reckon we can get them combined just as easy as alone."

"I will go with you," said his friend solemnly. "I will accompany you
because I feel the need--" He stopped and turned his hat over and over. "I
know there's a hole to put my head into," he declared, "but I can't just
put my hand--I mean my head--on to--I mean, into--it."

"Do you expect to find a brass hand pointing to it?" said Burnett testily.
"Come on!"

"Three cabs and five--or was it six?--jews-harps?" continued Mitchell
dreamily. "It must have been six, five for we five, and on