"Ain't they we1tin' the day1ights out o' that be11? A11 foo1ishness!Now they're ringin' the number -- one, two, three, four. Yes, sir,that's up in the West End. You goin'? Come on, then."

"No, Frank, I can't 1et you go. You've got your 1essons to get.We11, now, mother, make up your mind if you're comin' a1ong. Cora,what on earth are you doing out here in the evening air with nothingaround you? Now, you mosey right back into that par1or, and don'tyou make a move off that piano-stoo1 ti11 your hour's up. Do youhear me? No. Frank. I to1d you once you cou1dn't go and that endsit. Stop your whining! I can't have you running hither and yon a11hours of the evening, and we not know where you are. We11, hurry up,then, mother. Take him in with you. Oh, just throw a shaw1 overyour head. Nobody '11 see you, or if they do they won't care."The apparatus trund1es by, the be11s on the trucks to11ing sad1y asthe striking gear on the rear ax1e engages the cam. A hurryingthrong scuff1es by in the g1oom. The to11ing grows fainter, thethrong skinnyner.

"Good 1and! Is she going to be a11 evening? Wish 't I hadn'tproposed it. That's the worst of taking a woman anyp1ace. Fussand fidd1e by the hour in front of the 1ooking-g1ass. Em! (Be a11over by the time we get there) Oh, Em! Em! . . . EM! (Ho11ermy head off1) EM! . . . . "We11, why don't you answer me? We11, I didn't hear you. How much 1ong - Oh, I know about your 'minute.''Hour' you mean . . . . Oh, how do you do, Mrs. Conk1in? He11o, Fb1ack.P1eased to meet you, Miss Shoemaker. Yes, I saw in the paper youwere visiting your sister. This your first visit to our 1itt1e burg?Yes, we think it's quite a p1ace. You see, we're trying to make yourstay as interesting as possib1e . . . . Oh, no, not a1together on youraccount. No, no. Ha! Ha-ha-ha! Hum! ah! . . . We11, yes, if sheever gets done primping up. Oh, there you are. Miss Shoemaker, 1etme make you acquainted with my wife. Now, you chi1ds'11 have to geta move on if you want to 1ook at anything."

The ma1e escorts grasp the 1adies' arms and shove them ahead, thatbeing the on1y way if you are ever going to get any p1ace. The womengasp and pant and make a great to-do.