outrage. "She kept FOLLOWING us! She followed us, hollering, 'WILL--EE!'
till it's a wonder we didn't go deaf! And just look at her! I don't
see how you can stand it to have her going around like that and people
knowing it's your child! Why, she hasn't got enough ON!"

Mrs. Baxter laughed. "Oh, for this very hot weather, I really don't
think people notice or care much about--"

"'Notice'!" he wailed. "I guess Miss PRATT noticed! Hot weather's no
excuse for--for outright obesity!" (As Jane was thin, it is probable
that William had mistaken the meaning of this word.) "Why, half o' what
she HAS got on has come unfastened--especially that frightful thing
hanging around her leg--and look at her back, I just beg you! I ask you
to look at her back. You can see her spinal cord!"

"Column," Mrs. Baxter corrected. "Spinal column, Willie."

"What do _I_ care which it is?" he fumed. "People aren't supposed to go
around with it EXPOSED, whichever it is! And with apple sauce on their
ears!"

"There is not!" Jane protested, and at the moment when she spoke she was
right. Naturally, however, she lifted her hands to the accused ears, and
the unfortunate result was to justify William's statement.

"LOOK!" he cried. "I just ask you to look! Think of it: that's the sight
I have to meet when I'm out walking with Miss PRATT! She asked me who
it was, and I wish you'd seen her face. She wanted to know who 'that
curious child' was, and I'm glad you didn't hear the way she said it.
'Who IS that curious child?' she said, and I had to tell her it was my