y' got t' say'll keep, I guess--it'll gush out all the stronger fer
bein' bottled up a day or two."

"I can write!" he suggested.

"You can--but you won't--you'll tell her with your two lips--a woman
likes it better spoke--if spoke proper--I should! With arms entwined an'
eyes lookin' into eyes an'--oh, shucks! Will angel cake an' strawberry
jam--"

"They'll be ample, and--thank you, dear Mrs. Trapes!"




CHAPTER XXIV

HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA


"Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the
second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if
there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast
of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the
sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

"Don't be 'arsh, Joe, don't be 'arsh! Cake comes soft t' me pore old
teef."

"An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye