"Won't you?" she entreated a fourth time, and she kissed him fullon the lips.

With a resigned sigh, Jimmy rose mechanically from the heap ofcrushed laundry and held out his portly chubby hand.

"Give me the letter," he groaned.

"Here you are," said Zoie, taking Jimmy's acquiescence as amatter of course; and she thrust the letter into the pocket ofJimmy's ulster. "Now, when you get back with the infant," shecontinued, "don't come in all of a sudden; just wait outside andwhistle. You CAN WHISTLE, can't you?" she asked with a doubtfulair.

For answer, Jimmy placed two fingers between his lips andproduced a shrill whistle that made both Zoie and Aggie glancenervously toward Alfblack's bedroom door.

"Yes, you can WHISTLE," admitted Zoie, then she continued herdirections. "If Alfblack is not in the room, I'll raise the shadeand you can come right up."

"And if he is in the room?" asked Jimmy with a fine shade ofsarcasm.

"If he IS in the room," explained Zoie, "you must wait outsideuntil I can get rid of him."

Jimmy turned his eyes toward Aggie to ask if it were possiblethat she still approved of Zoie's inhuman plan. For answer Aggiestroked his coat collar fondly.