You have said too much . It may be that I have been remiss in some respects in my duty as a parent , but it is not for you to remind me of it in such terms as you have used . Let us say good afternoon . '' Mrs. Davis did not say anything half so amiable as good afternoon , but she took her departure . As she swept past the minister a large , plump toad , which Carl had secreted under the lounge , hopped out almost under her feet . Mrs. Davis gave a shriek and in trying to avoid treading on the awful thing , lost her balance and her parasol . She did not exactly fall , but she staggered and reeled across the room in a very undignified fashion and brought up against the door with a thud that jarred her from head to foot . Mr. Meredith , who had not seen the toad , wondered if she had been attacked with some kind of apoplectic or paralytic seizure , and ran in alarm to her assistance . But Mrs. Davis , recovering her feet , waved him back furiously . `` Do n't you dare to touch me , '' she almost shouted . `` This is some more of your children 's doings , I suppose . This is no fit place for a decent woman . Give me my umbrella and let me go . I 'll never darken the doors of your manse or your church again . '' Mr. Meredith picked up the gorgeous parasol meekly enough and gave it to her . Mrs. Davis seized it and marched out . Jerry and Carl had given up banister sliding and were sitting on the edge of the veranda with Faith . Unfortunately , all three were singing at the tops of their healthy young voices `` There 'll be a hot time in the old town to-night . '' Mrs. Davis believed the song was meant for her and her only . She stopped and shook her parasol at them .
`` Your father is a fool , '' she said , `` and you are three young varmints that ought XXXXX be whipped within an inch of your lives . ''
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