to shriek for him; and Mr. Schofield, hastily entering
the room, beheld his wife apparently in the act of sawing his son back
and forth across the sill of an open window.
Penrod made a frantic effort to reach the good green earth, even after
his mother's clutch upon his ankle had been reenforced by his father's.
Nor was the lad's revolt subdued when he was deposited upon the floor
and the window closed. Indeed, it may be said that he actually never
gave up, though it is a fact that the second potion was successfully
placed inside him. But by the time this feat was finally accomplished,
Mr. Schofield had proved that, in spite of middle age, he was entitled
to substantial claims and honours both as athlete and orator--his
oratory being founded less upon the school of Webster and more upon that
of Jeremiah.
So the thing was done, and the double dose put within the person of
Penrod Schofield. It proved not ineffective there, and presently, as its
new owner sat morosely at table, he began to feel slightly dizzy and
his eyes refused him perfect service. This was natural, because two
tablespoons of the cloudy brown liquor contained about the amount of
alcohol to be found in an ordinary cocktail. Now a boy does not enjoy
the effects of intoxication; enjoyment of that kind is obtained only
by studious application. Therefore, Penrod spoke of his symptoms
complainingly, and even showed himself so vindictive as to attribute
them to the new medicine.
His mother made no reply. Instead, she nodded her head as if some inner
conviction had proven well founded.
"BILIOUS, TOO," she whispered to her husband.
That evening, during the half-hour preceding dinner, the dining-room was
the scene of another struggle, only a little less desperate than that
which had been the prelude to lunch, and again an appeal to the head of
the house was found necessary. Muscular activity and a liberal imitation
of the jeremiads once more subjugated the rebel--and the same rebellion
and its suppression in a like manner took place the following morning
before breakfast. But this was Saturday, and, without warning or
apparent reason, a remarkable change came about at noon. However, Mr.
and Mrs. Schofield were used to inexplicable changes in Penrod, and they
missed its significance.
When Mrs. Schofield, with dread in her heart, called Penrod into the
house "to take his medicine" before lunch, he came briskly, and took it
like a lamb!
"Why, Penrod,
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