"`Candor's the order of the day, isn't it?' he asked.
"`Yes!' `Yes!' two or three answered.
"`Well then,' said he, `candidly, Pauline, you've got the darn'dest
squeaky voice'--
"Miss Ringtop gave a faint little scream of horror.
"`Oh, never mind!' he continued. `We act according to
impulse, don't we? And I've the impulse to swear; and it's right.
Let Nature have her way. Listen! Damn, damn, damn, damn! I never
knew it was so easy. Why, there's a pleasure in it! Try it,
Pauline! try it on me!'
"`Oh-ooh!' was all Miss Ringtop could utter.
"`Abel! Abel!' exclaimed Hollins, `the beer has got into your
head.'
"`No, it isn't Beer,--it's Candor!' said Abel. `It's your own
proposal, Hollins. Suppose it's evil to swear: isn't it better I
should express it, and be done with it, than keep it bottled up to
ferment in my mind? Oh, you're a precious, consistent old humbug,
you are!'
"And therewith he jumped off the stoop, and went dancing awkwardly
down towards the water, singing in a most unmelodious voice, `'Tis
home where'er the heart is.
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