"
"Yes, dear," said Ruperta, very gravely; "I'm younger in my body, but
older in my head."
This matter being settled so that neither party could complain, since
antiquity was evenly distributed, the catechizing recommenced.
"Do you believe in 'Let dogs delight?'"
"I don't know."
"What!" screamed Ruperta. "Oh, you wicked boy! Why, it comes next after
the Bible."
"Then I do believe it," said Compton, who, to tell the truth, had been
merely puzzled by the verb, and was not afflicted with any doubt that
the composition referred to was a divine oracle.
"Good boy!" said Ruperta, patronizingly. "Well, then, this is what
puzzles me; your papa and mine don't believe in 'Dogs delight.' They
have been quarreling this twelve years and more, and mean to go on, in
spite of mamma. She _is_ good. Didn't you know that your papa and mine
are great enemies?"
"No, Ruperta. Oh, what a pity!"
"Don't, Compton, don't: there, you have made me cry."
He set himself to console her.
She consented to be consoled.
But she said, with a sigh, "What becomes of old people being better
than young ones, now? Are you and I bears and lions? Do we scratch out
each other's eyes? It is all puzzle, puzzle, puzzle. I wish I was dead!
Nurse says, when I'm dead I shall understand it all.
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