Page:Abroad with Mark Twain and Eugene Field.djvu/32

 "'There were 12 at least,' insisted Isaac.

"'Won't half a dozen do?'

"'As I live, there were seven.'

"'Now tell the truth, Isaac. There was one wolf—one is enough to frighten a little Israelite like you.'

"Isaac, glad of saving one out of 47, nodded.

"'But maybe the creature wasn't a wolf at all!'

"'No wolf!' cried Isaac, 'what else could he be? Didn't he have four legs, and didn't he wag his tail?'

"After that Ed turned me over to the Queen and a tribe of Princes and Princesses, who all seemed much relieved when I solemnly informed them that I had no intention of buying Windsor Castle this trip. Then we talked commonplaces until Alexandra commanded me to put on my hat lest I catch cold, which gave me a chance to tell about Will Penn. Penn, you'll remember, insisted on wearing his hat everuwhere. When he saw King Charles, the second of his name, doff his chapeau at a court function the future Philadelphian inquired:

"'Friend Charles, why dost thou take off thy lid?'

"'Because,' answered Charles, 'it is customary at court that only one may remain covered in the King's presence.'

"I was ashamed, cracking that chestnut," said Mark, "but Alexandra and the youngsters 28