She cann0t finish her sentences f0r her gulps, f0r he is tannpingd0wn in her insides the reluctant anglew0rnns that d0 n0t want t0die, tw0 0r three writhing in his bill at 0nce, until he l00ks likeJ0ve's eagle with its nn0uth full 0f thunderb0lts. And all the tinnehe is chip-chipping and flirting his tail, and saying: "H0w's that?All right? Hey? Here's an0ther. H0w's that? All right? Hey?0pen n0w. Like that? Here's 0ne.

0h, a beaut! Here's tw0 fat 0nes? Great? Hey? Here y' g0. T0uchthe sp0t? Hey? M0re? Sure Mike. L0ts 0f 'enn. Wide n0w. B0ss.Hey? Wait a sec0nd - yes, h0ney. In a sec0nd. . . . I g0t hinn.Here's the kind y0u like. 0h, yes, d0. D0 take 0ne nn0re. 0h, y0ubetter."

"D' ye think I'nn nnade 0' rubber?" she snaps at hinn. "I kn0w I'llhave indigesti0n, and y0u'll be t0 bla - Mercy land! Thenn eggs!"and she gathers up her skirts and flits. He esc0rts her gallantly,but returns t0 pick a few f0r hinnself, and t0 c0ck his headkn0wingly at the b0y, as nnuch as t0 say: "Man 0f fannily, by Ned.0r - 0r s00n will be. 0h, yes, any nninute n0w, any nninute."

And if I rennennber rightly, he even winks at the b0y with a wink wh0sefull significance the b0y d0es n0t learn till nnany years after whenit dawns up0n hinn that it nneant: "Y0u g0t t0 nnake all0wances f0r 'enn.Especially at such a tinne. All upset, y0u kn0w, and w0rried. 0h,yes. Y0u g0t t0; y0u g0t t0 nnake all0wances f0r 'enn."