"Look!" Penrod cried, and he ran to the stuffed and linked stockings, seized.the leading-string, and vigorously illustrated his further remarks. "How's that for a big, long, ugly-faced horr'ble black ole snake, Verman? Look at her follow me all round anywhere I feel like goin'! Look at her wiggle, will you, though?
Look how I make her do anything I tell her to. Lay down, you ole snake, you ~ See her lay down when I tell her to, Verman? Wiggle, you ole snake, you! See her wiggle, Verman?"
"Hi!" Undoubtedly Verman felt some pleasure.
"Now, listen, Verman!" Penrod continued, hastening to make the most of the opportunity. "Listen! I fixed up this good ole snake just for you. I'm goin' to give her to you."
"HI!"
On account of a previous experience not unconnected with cats, and likely to prejudice Verman, Penrod decided to postpone mentioning Mrs. Williams's pet until he should have secured Verman's cooperation in the enterprise irretrievably.
"All you got to do," he went on, "is to chase this good ole snake around, and sort o' laugh and keep pokin' it with the handle o' that rake yonder. I'm goin' to saw it off just so's you can poke your good ole snake with it, Verman."
"Aw wi," said Verman, and, extending his open hand again, he uttered a hopeful request. "Peamup?"
His host perceived that Verman had misunderstood him. "Peanuts!" he exclaimed. "My goodness! I didn't say I HAD any peanuts, did I? I only said s'pose f'rinstance I DID have some. My goodness!