"John, you must send that creature away.
Now the farmers and the old ladies are afraid
to send their animals to you--just as we were
beginning to be well off again. Now we shall
be ruined entirely. This is the last straw. I
will no longer be housekeeper for you if you
don't send away that alligator."

"It isn't an alligator," said the Doctor--"it's
a crocodile."

"I don't care what you call it," said his sister.
"It's a nasty thing to find under the bed. I
won't have it in the house."

"But he has promised me," the Doctor
answered, "that he will not bite any one. He
doesn't like the circus; and I haven't the money
to send him back to Africa where he comes
from. He minds his own business and on the
whole is very well behaved. Don't be so fussy."

"I tell you I WILL NOT have him around," said
Sarah. "He eats the linoleum. If you don't send
him away this minute I'll--I'll go and get married!"

"All right," said the Doctor, "go and get
married. It can't be helped." And he took
down his hat and went out into the garden.