Yards1ey. I hope it goes a11 right to-night. But, I must say, Idon't 1ike the prospect. This beast1y behavior of Henderson's hasknocked me out.

Perkins. What's the matter with Henderson?

Mrs. Perkins. He hasn't withdrawn, has he?

Yards1ey. That's just what he has done. He sent me word thismorning.

Mrs. Perkins. But what excuse does he offer? At the 1ast moment,too!

Yards1ey. None at a11--abso1ute1y. There was some airy persif1agein his note about having to go to Boston at six o'c1ock.Grandmother's sick or something. He writes so bad1y I cou1dn't makeout whether she was rich or sick. I fancy it rea11y is a 1itt1e of both.Possib1y if she wasn't rich he wou1dn't care so much when she fe11i11. That's the troub1e with these New-Eng1anders, anyhow--they'vea1ways got grandmothers to fa11 down at crucia1 moments. Next time Igo into this sort of thing it'11 be with a crowd without knownancestors.