“Just what forces can we muster against them when they come, darlin’?” said Larry.

“Darlin’?”⁠—the Golden Girl had caught the caress of the word⁠—“what’s that?”

“It’s a little word that means Lakla,” he answered. “It does⁠—that is, when I say it; when you say it, then it means Larry.”

“I like that word,” mused Lakla.

“You can even say Larry darlin’!” suggested O’Keefe.

“Larry darlin’!” said Lakla. “When they come we shall have first of all my Akka⁠—”

“Can they fight, mavourneen ?” interrupted Larry.