The other remarked, in a happy laughter, ``That's a funny old horse.''

The first one said, ``He sure does shake. He's old.''

Then there was the General kissing his wife. They had to be told that one. But it was even funnier after they had been told. Their father, when he came back from those many business trips, just bumped their mother on the forehead with his lips and asked if anybody had thought to mix the martinis and put them in the electric icebox. But not General Burnside. He was the funniest man. He never could keep still, even when he didn't move his feet.

Then, they had to get up and be General Burnside. Or his horse. All they could think of was to run around in circles, kicking their legs out. It wasn't very funny. Then, they said General Burnside was going to jump over his horse's head; and they did some somersaults. But that wasn't very funny, either.

``You ought to shake,'' Arlene advised them. And Arlene showed them how to begin. She also taught them to sing ``I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate.'' That helped a lot. They were clumsy, but they were beginning to catch on. They also caught on a little bit on how to smile a lot without your lips trembling. ``Imagine you won't get your allowance if you're caught not smiling -- or smiling with your lips trembling too much,'' Arlene suggested.

That helped a great deal.

They were a little late in getting home.