"Ladies, those poses are superb." "Professor, you can judge." "No one doubts it, ladies." "Professor, I need words just now," said one of them. "Professor, I need a professor," said the other. "That's epidemic, ladies." Little Mary entered the room and ran around holding her doll by one foot. "Oh! oh! oh!" said she. "Is your doll hurt?" asked Rodney, following her around the room with his cat in his arms. "No, no, no," replied she. "A cat for a doll," said Rodney. "I must tell it first," gasped Mary. "Go on, while I fan you with my cat, Mary!" "The professor and the ladies--are drinking--from--a big black bottle." "Let's see," said Rodney, as he ran to the door and peeped. Mary followed and stood behind him. "Ha! ha! let it flow right along," came from without. Rodney held up his cat for a bottle and made a gurgling sound. Mary held up her doll and imitated him. The professor now parted from the ladies and approached Rodney's home. As he walked into the room Rodney and Mary sat upon the floor and exchanged the cat and doll. "I am Professor Brandon," said he, pulling his mustache. Rodney went through the motion of pulling his, and Mary pulled the cat's. "'Tis delightful to meet ladies," said he. Rodney's mother nodded. "Schoolteaching would be unbearable were it not for meeting ladies." "Must you have the big black bottle every time?" asked Mary. Here Rodney held up the doll and made a drinking noise. "These young ones need curbing," said the professor. "So do appetites, sir," replied Rodney's mother. "I am a schoolteacher, madam," roared he. "I am a washerwoman, sir," was her reply. "Very well, I'll give you a job. What can you wash?" "Shirts." "What else?" "Drawers." "What else?" "Socks." "What else?" "Diapers, sir." "You are brutally plain, madam." "You are devilishly inconsiderate and inquisitive, sir." Both children emphasized the remark by beating upon the floor. "To my business," said the professor. "This boy should be at school. Where is his father?" "I ask you the same question, sir." "Madam, that leads me to suspect." "What does 'suspect' mean, professor?" asked Mary. "It means--the Latin of it is--let's see----" The professor stopped to pull his mustache. "It means to dream out something and swear it's true," spoke up Rodney's mother. "Madam, I want to talk to you about this boy's schooling. Have you any drinking water?" "No. Rodney, a bucket of water." "A bucket of water, Rodney. Go fast and return slowly," put in the professor. Rodney started briskly, but Mary held him back and looked saucily at the professor. "Let's bring back the bottle," laughed she, as both ran out. "First, madam, I am a professor. I hold a diploma from a college." "You carry it with you?" "Sometimes." "You have shown it to leading white men?" "Yes." "Well, many a good-meaning white man has been deceived by a college diploma in the hands of a negro." "You presume too far on your limited knowledge."