very low of a fever."

"Gee!" says I. "Some folks are born lucky, though!"

"And others," says he, "in the Forest of Arden."

CHAPTER XI

A LOOK IN ON THE GOAT GAME

Pinckney was tellin' me, here awhile back at lunch one day, what terrors
them twins of his was gettin' to be. He relates a tragic tale about how
they'd just been requested to resign from another private school where
they'd been goin' as day scholars.

"That is the third this season," says he; "the third, mind you!"

"Well, there's more still, ain't there?" says I.

"Brilliant observation, Shorty," says he, "also logical and pertinent.
Yes, there are several others still untried by the twins."

"What you howlin' about, then?" says I.

"Because," says he, toyin' with the silver frame that holds the bill of
fare, "because it is not my intention to demoralize all the educational
institutions of this city in alphabetical order."

"G'wan!" says I. "The kids have got to be educated somewhere, haven't
they?"

"Which is the sad part of it," says Pinckney, inspectin' the dish of
scrambled eggs and asparagus tips and wavin' the waiter to do the serving
himself. "It means," he goes on, "having a governess around the house,
and you know what nuisances they can be."

"Do I?" says I. "The nearest I ever got to havin' a governess was when
Mrs. O'Grady from next door used to come in to use our wash-tubs and I
was left with her for the day. Nobody ever called her a nuisance and got
away with it."

"What an idyllic youth to look back upon!" says he. "I can remember half
a dozen, at least, who had a hand in directing the course of my budding
intellect, and each one of them developed some peculiarity which
complicated the domestic situation. I am wondering what this new
governess of ours will contribute."

"Got one on the job already, eh?" says I.

"This is her third day," says he, "and if she manages to live through it
with the twins, I shall have hope."

"Ah, pickles!" says I. "Those kids are all right. They're full of life
and ginger, that's all."

"Especially ginger," says Pinckney.

"What of it?" says I. "Or are you just blowin' about 'em? It's all right,
they're a great pair, and any time you want to entertain me for half an
hour, turn 'em loose in my comp'ny."

"Done!" says Pinckney. "We'll take a cab right up."

"Put it off three minutes, can't you?" says I, lookin' over the French
pastry tray and spearin' a frosted creampuff that wa