"
Aggie admitted that Zoie was no doubt speaking the truth.
"Jimmy has awakened Alfred's paternal instinct for twins,"
declared Zoie, with another emphatic nod of her head, "and now
Jimmy must take the consequences."
Jimmy tried to frame a few faint objections, but Zoie waved him
aside, with a positive air. "It's no use arguing. If it were
only ONE, it wouldn't be so bad, but to tell Alfred that he's
lost twins, he couldn't live through it."
"But Zoie," argued Aggie, "we can't have that mother hanging
around down stairs until that baby is an old man. She'll have us
arrested, the next thing."
"Why arrest US?" asked Zoie, with wide baby eyes. "WE didn't
take it. Old slow-poke took it." And she nodded toward the now
utterly vanquished Jimmy.
"That's right," murmured Jimmy, with a weak attempt at sarcasm,
"don't leave me out of anything good."
"It doesn't matter WHICH one she arrests," decided the practical
Aggie.
"Well, it matters to me," objected Zoie.
"And to me too, if it's all the same to you," protested Jimmy.
"Whoever it is," continued Aggie, "the truth is bound to come
out. Alfred will have to know sooner or later, so we might as
well make a clean breast of it, first as last."
"That's the first sensible thing you've said in three months,"
declared Jimmy with reviving hope.
"Oh, is that so?" sneered Zoie, and she levelled her most
malicious look at Jimmy.
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