I told him once I thought he must have been nice when he was a boy . One day he astonished me by appearing at the dinner table with his hair brushed and a white collar on . We had a tiptop dinner that day , and I had made a pudding that was far too good for a woman hater . When Alexander Abraham had disposed of two large platefuls of it , he sighed and said , `` You can certainly cook . It 's a pity you are such a detestable crank in other respects . '' `` It 's kind of convenient being a crank , '' I said . `` People are careful how they meddle with you . Have n't you found that out in your own experience ? '' `` I am NOT a crank , '' growled Alexander Abraham resentfully . `` All I ask is to be let alone . '' `` That 's the very crankiest kind of crank , '' I said . `` A person who wants to be let alone flies in the face of Providence , who decreed that folks for their own good were not to be let alone . But cheer up , Mr. Bennett . The quarantine will be up on Tuesday and then you 'll certainly be let alone for the rest of your natural life , as far as William Adolphus and I are concerned . You may then return to your wallowing in the mire and be as dirty and comfortable as of yore . '' Alexander Abraham growled again . The prospect did n't seem to cheer him up as much as I should have expected . Then he did an amazing thing . He poured some cream into a saucer and set it down before William Adolphus . William Adolphus lapped it up , keeping one eye on Alexander Abraham lest the latter should change his mind .
Not XXXXX be outdone , I handed Mr. Riley a bone .
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