"
Jacko laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks--never, since her
marriage, had Jacko laughed so much.
"Oh, Dr. Grimshaw! Don't you see she is getting worse and worse. How can
you have the heart to stand there and not go for a physician?" said Mrs.
Waugh, while Mary L'Oiseau looked on, mute with terror, and the
commodore stood with his fat eyes protruding nearly to bursting.
"Go, oh, go, Dr. Grimshaw!" insisted Mrs. Waugh.
"I assure you it is not necessary, madam," said the professor, with
stern scorn.
"There is no danger, aunty. I haven't taken any poison since I took a
dose of Grim before the altar!" said Jacko, through her tears and
laughter.
"What have you taken, then, unfortunate child?"
"I have swallowed an assignation," said the elf, as grave as a judge.
"A what?" exclaimed all, in a breath,
"An assignation," repeated Jacko, with owl-like calmness and solemnity.
"What in the name of common sense do you mean, my dear?" inquired Mrs.
Waugh, while the commodore and Mary L'Oiseau looked the astonishment
they did not speak. "Pray explain yourself, my love."
"He--says--I--swallowed--an--assignation--whole!" repeated Jacquelina,
with distinct emphasis. Her auditors looked from one to another in
perplexity.
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