"Naturally, Mrs. Bingle is keen about the idea. Saves a lot of
bother."

"It's got to be such a joy having children in this way, when we
please, as often as we like, and being able to determine sex to our
own satisfaction, that we really look forward to the arrival of a new
one. There's always the pleasure of picking out blondes or brunettes.
We try to equalize as much as possible. I am--or was--a blonde, Mr.
Flanders--quite a decided blonde. Mrs. Bingle is still a brunette."

"And now, may I inquire, do they all regard you as their real father?"

"In a measure. There are times when they look upon me as a sort of
truck-horse. But real fathers have told me that that is customary.
They call me daddy, if that's what you mean. Once in a while they seem
to recollect that there was another man and woman in their lives, but
not often. Generally people who used to beat them, I gather. I will
say this for our children: they were all thoroughly spanked before
they came to us. It takes 'em a long time to get used to not being
spanked."

"Do you never punish them?"

"Frequently. If they're bad I have them locked in a closet. We've got
a very large closet with windows and other comforts. Usually there are
three or four of 'em in at the same time, so they don't mind."

"God will surely reward you, sir, for being kind to all these poor
little kiddies. May I--ahem!--May I express the hope, sir, that some
day you may me blessed with--er--"