human
Out with it, Winnie, he said good-naturedly.
gpt
I can see that you are fairly bristling with the necessity of making an important communication.
human
It's Sarah, then, announced Winnie, putting down the glass of milk.
gpt
Something has got to be done about her, Hughie.
human
Sarah? inquired the doctor meditatively.
gpt
Why I thought she was conducting herself in an exemplary manner these last few weeks.
human
I'm always the one that has to tell you, she complained.
gpt
I'm after asking Miss Trudy these three nights running to speak to you, but does she? She does not. She speaks to Sarah who minds her about as well as the wind does. And Rosemary won't be doing her duty, either; she says 'twould be telling tales and she's got Shirley around to the same way of thinking.
human
A conspiracy, eh?
gpt
Well, Winnie, what should I know that I don't know about my small sister Sarah?
human
I'm not one to be going out of my way to find something to babble, she declared now.
gpt
There's plenty of things goes on I could be running to you with every day in the week, did I so mind; but I believe in letting folks have their own heads, as long as they don't go too far.
human
Sarah, I take it, has gone too far?
gpt
I don't know as you'd call it that, said Winnie with a faint suspicion of sarcasm.
human
I may be too finicky and if I am, may I be forgiven for troubling you. But when it comes to sleeping in the same room with six sore-eyed kittens and in the same bed with a mangy street dog, I think something should be done about it. 'Tisn't Christian-like.
gpt
Do you mean to tell me Sarah has got a mess like that up in her room?
human
She has that, said Winnie firmly.
gpt
That and worse. She has rabbits in her clothes closet and this morning I had to carry out two dead chickens. She lugs them all up every night to keep 'em warm, she says.
human
Is everyone in the house crazy? asked the bewildered doctor.
gpt
What's the matter with you, Winnie? Ordinarily you can make the world take orders from you--couldn't you put a stop to this?
human
I've argued and I've scolded and I've threatened to chloroform every animal on the place, said Winnie impressively,
gpt
Nonsense! the doctor pushed back his chair sharply.
human
At least you could have come to me and told me the first night she tried to keep an animal in her room.
gpt
I'm as weak as the rest of 'em, admitted Winnie.
human
Miss Trudy cried and Shirley grumbled because she had to go in and sleep with Rosemary; but none of us liked to say a word to you. I don't suppose I'd be after telling you now if I wasn't afraid Sarah would catch something from that dog she brought home to-night.
gpt
I'll go up and read the riot act to her, even if it is late, said Doctor Hugh, frowning.
human
Such a state of affairs is beyond belief. Shirley is sleeping with Rosemary, you say, and Sarah has the menagerie in the bed with her?
gpt
Well, she has the dog--I saw him under the blanket. But you're not going to bother her to-night, are you?
human
Do you suppose I'm going to have her sleeping with a dog that came from Heaven alone knows where? was the impatient answer.
gpt
If I can get the animals out of her room without waking her, well and good; but in any case, out they come.