"This is what I call satisfactory," said Bill, as they sat at
breakfast next morning. "It's a great relief to the mind to know
that them puddin'-thieves is sufferin' the agonies of remorse, and
that our Puddin' is safe from bein' stolen every ten minutes."
"You're a bun-headed old optimist," said the Puddin' rudely.
"Puddin'-thieves never suffer from remorse. They only suffer
from blighted hopes and suppressed activity."
"Have you no trust in human nature, Albert?" asked Bill,
sternly. "Don't you know that nothin' gives a man greater
remorse than havin' his face punched, his toes trod on, and eggs
rubbed in his hair?"
"I have grave doubts myself," said Bunyip Bluegum, "as to the
sincerity of their repentance; "and Ben Brandysnap said that,
speaking as a market gardener, his experience of carrot catchers,
onion snatchers, pumpkin pouncers, and cabbage grabbers induced him
to hold the opinion that shooting them with pea-rifles was the only
sure way to make them feel remorse.