Page:The Zankiwank & the Bletherwitch (IA zankiwankblether00fitziala).pdf/176

 to their knees, had women’s faces, with their hair done up in plaits and chignons and Grecian knot fashion, with elderly bonnets perched on the top.

“That,” said the Zankiwank, “is the force of habit.”

“What habit, please? It does not suit them,” said Maude.

“You are mistaken. Good habits become second nature.”

“And what do bad habits become?” queried Willie.

“Bad habits,” answered the Zankiwank severely, “become no one.”

“And these must be bad habits,” exclaimed Willie, pointing to the children, “for they do not become them.”

“I thought their clothes fitted them very well.”

“We don’t mean their clothes,” cried Maude. “We mean their general appearance.”

“Ah! you are referring to the unnatural history aspect of the case. You mean their heads, of course. They do not fit properly. I have noticed it myself. It comes of expecting too much, and