"Why, mama? Aren't young ladies supposed to have bones?"

"Young ladies are not supposed to make use of unrefined expressions.
Your poor sister."

"There, mama. Dear Dolly didn't live upon stilts, I'm sure. Even when
she married."

"Be-atrice!"

"Dear me, mama! I hope you are not growing peevish. Peevish elderly
people--"

"Auntie! I want to go home!" the small boy wailed.

"You cannot go home now, dear," sighed his guardian angel. "Look at the
pretty--" She hesitated, groping vaguely for some object to which she
might conscientiously apply the adjective.

"Mud," suggested Beatrice promptly "Look at the wheels, Dorman; they're
playing patty-cake. See, now they say, 'Roll 'em, and roll 'em,' and
now, 'Toss in the oven to bake!" And now--"

"Auntie, I want to get out an' play patty-cake, like de wheels. I want
to awf'lly!"

"Beatrice, why did you put that into his head?" her mother demanded,
fretfully.