Page:Carroll Rankin--Dandelion Cottage.djvu/154

 132  Mabel, importantly. Her verses sometimes lacked that desirable quality so when they did rhyme Mabel always liked to mention it. "Here it is:

As soon as a man named Milligan Got well he always fell ill again—ill again—ill

Dear me, I can't remember how it went. There was a lot more but I've forgotten the rest."

"It's a great pity," said Marjory, drily, "that you didn't forget all of it, because if there's really a Mr. Milligan, and I ever see him, I'll think of that rhyme and I won't be able to keep my face straight"

"We must be very polite to the Milligans," said considerate Bettie, "and call on them as soon as they come. Mother always calls on new people; she says it makes folks feel more comfortable to be welcomed into the neighbourhood."

"Mrs. Crane does it too—we're the nearest, perhaps we ought to be the first."