"I don't s'pose you'd care if I
burned my feet right off! Mamma, won't you please, pul-LEEZE let
me get some sleep?"
"Not till you--"
She was interrupted by a groan that seemed to come from an abyss.
"All right, I'll do it! Let 'em burn, then!" Thus spake the
desperate Penrod; and Mrs. Schofield was able to ascertain that
one heel had been placed in light contact with the bag.
"No; both feet, Penrod."
With a tragic shiver he obeyed.
"THAT'S right, dear! Now, keep them that way. It's good for you.
Good-night."
"G'-night!"
The door closed softly behind her, and the body of Penrod, from
the hips upward, rose invisibly in the complete darkness of the
bedchamber. A moment later the hot-water bag reached the floor in
as noiseless a manner as that previously adopted by the remains
of the little pill, and Penrod once more bespread his soul with
poppies. This time he slept until the breakfast-bell rang.
He was late to school, and at once found himself in difficulties.
Government demanded an explanation of the tardiness; but Penrod
made no reply of any kind.
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