easance of burden which he found pleasant; and no supplementary message
came from the clothes-boiler, for the reason that it was incapable
of further speech. And so the two groups maintained for a time their
relative positions, about fifteen feet apart.

The amusement of the second group having abated through satiety, the
minds of its components turned to other topics. "Now Flopit must have
his darlin' 'ickle run," said Flopit's mistress, setting the doglet upon
the ground. "That's why sweetest Flopit and I and all of us came for a
walk, instead of sitting on the nice, cool porch-kins. SEE the sweetie
toddle! Isn't he adorable, May? ISN'T he adorable, Mr. Watson?"

Mr. Watson put a useless sin upon his soul, since all he needed to say
was a mere "Yes." He fluently avowed himself to have become insane over
the beauty of Flopit.

Flopit, placed upon the ground, looked like something that had dropped
from a Christmas tree, and he automatically made use of fuzzy legs,
somewhat longer than a caterpillar's, to patter after his mistress. He
was neither enterprising nor inquisitive; he kept close to the rim of
her skirt, which was as high as he could see, and he wished to be taken
up and carried again. He was in a half-stupor; it was his desire
to remain in that condition, and his propulsion was almost wholly
subconscious, though surprisingly rapid, considering his dimensions.

"My goo'ness!" exclaimed Genesis, glancing back over his shoulder. "'At
li'l' thing ack like he think he go'n a GIT somewheres!" And then, in
answer to a frantic pull upon the tub, "Look like you mighty strong
t'day," he said. "I cain' go no fastuh!" He glanced back again,
chuckling. "'At li'l' bird do well not mix up nothin' 'ith ole man