"Do you like New York?" Aunt Martha asked the other half of the
sketch in an effort to be pleasant.

"You betcher sweet!" said Dodo, whereupon Aunt Martha fell back two
paces to the rear and looked pityingly at Bunch.

"If you'll excuse us, Uncle Cornelius and Aunt Flora, I'll take my
wife and her mother to the train," I said nervously.

"Not at all, not at all," piped Skinski. "Dodey--I mean Flo--and I
don't mind a bit, do we, Flo?"

"You betcher sweet!" she answered, and I saw Peaches glance
questioningly at Bunch, who was giving a brilliant imitation of the
last rose of summer.

"But, John, I'm so hungry," Peaches pleaded.

"I know, my dear, but you see Bunch has an awful lot of family
happenings to discuss with his relatives," I said; "and we must
give him a chance to get acquainted with Uncle Cornelius and Aunt
Flora."

Whereupon I grabbed my hat and ducked for another eat shop without
ever glancing at Bunch.




CHAPTER V.