"Well, what did he do?" "He took hold of her hand." "Well." "He squeezed it." "Good!" "He advanced his mouth in close proximity to her lips." "Excellent!" "He kissed her." "And then?" "One of the little cherubs ran into the room, and bawling out, 'You stop biting my mamma!' struck Dobbs with a stick." "Horrible!" "Dobbs saw a servant-maid's grinning face at the door. He snatched up his hat and rushed from the house. The widow seized the little cherub, and laid him over her lap and spanked him." "What became of Dobbs?" "He returned next evening. The cherubs were all put to bed. He again presented the question of annexation for the consideration of the widow. This time it was debated on both sides. The widow told him that she had solemnly vowed never to be the wife of anybody but Simon Rump. She could not break her vow. Dobbs then proposed to change his name to Rump. This proposition was satisfactory. M. T. Pate filed a bill in chancery for Dobbs, and a decree was passed changing his name to Rump; and Simon Dobbs is now Simon Rump; and an angel dwells with him, and seven sweet little cherubs run about his domicile with their bare feet." "Cherubs are always barefooted," said the Professor. "They are painted so on canvas. It couldn't be otherwise." "Why not?" said Toney. "Because no shoemaker ever entered the kingdom of heaven." "I cannot see why the disciples of St. Crispin should be excluded," said Toney. "They never tell the truth, and liars--you know the text. Did you ever see the picture of an angel with a pair of shoes on his feet?" "Never!" "They have no shoemakers among them," said the Professor. They had now reached the hotel, and, after Toney had directed Hannibal and Cæsar to come for his trunks, were approaching his room, when they heard a loud noise, and Tom Seddon's voice furiously shouting "Villain!" This was followed by the sound of some heavy body falling on the floor. Toney and the Professor rushed into the room. In the middle of the floor stood Tom Seddon with his clothes covered with blood. A crimson stream spouted from his person and sprinkled the floor. In a corner of the room lay Dr. Bull, having just been knocked down by a blow from Seddon's fist. On the bed was a basin turned upside down. With the ferocity of a tiger Tom was about to spring at Bull again when Toney caught him and held him back. "Let me at him!" shouted Tom, savagely. "He has had my blood and I want his!" "Are you not Jones?" groaned Bull, in the corner. "Jones! who is Jones? You bloody old villain!" cried Tom. "Good heavens!" said Bull, "I fear I have made a mistake! I have bled the wrong man!" Toney roared with laughter, and the Professor fell on the bed and emitted violent explosions of mirth.