I'd have water-cresses, 'am, muffin, and fresh butter; wouldn't I
just, O my!'

The clerk was interrupted by a fresh attack of coughing.

'Well, now, I'll tell you what I would do,' said the captain: 'I
would have none of your fancy rigs with the man driving from
the mizzen cross-trees, but a plain fore-and-aft hack cab of the
highest registered tonnage. First of all, I would bring up at the
market and get a turkey and a sucking-pig. Then I'd go to a
wine merchant's and get a dozen of champagne, and a dozen of
some sweet wine, rich and sticky and strong, something in the
port or madeira line, the best in the store. Then I'd bear up for
a toy-store, and lay out twenty dollars in assorted toys for the
piccaninnies; and then to a confectioner's and take in cakes and
pies and fancy bread, and that stuff with the plums in it; and
then to a news-agency and buy all the papers, all the picture
ones for the kids, and all the story papers for the old girl
about the Earl discovering himself to Anna-Mariar and the escape
of the Lady Maude from the private madhouse; and then I'd tell
the fellow to drive home.'

'There ought to be some syrup for the kids,' suggested Herrick;
'they like syrup.'

'Yes, syrup for the kids, red syrup at that!' said the captain.
'And those things they pull at, and go pop, and have measly
poetry inside. And then I tell you we'd have a thanksgiving day
and Christmas tree combined. Great Scott, but I would like to
see the kids! I guess they would light right out of the house,