A. H. [laughing lightly]. Really? Well, I have just come in from making a few hurried calls on the different girls about here.
Mrs. B. [somewhat surprised]. Why hurried calls, my dear?
A. H. Well, I wanted to talk over some business matters with them. [She laughs again.]
Mrs. B. [looks askance at Mr. B.]. Agnes, we are going to give a very small dinner to-night. I'm afraid Gordon is not equal to a large affair just yet. She has sprained her wrist quite badly, and of course it will be rather stupid for you, but then Benedict has asked a man or two; that will perhaps be interesting. You are fond of men ?
A. H. Oh, yes! But [shaking a little bag attached to her chatelaine] you must not expect me to be smitten by their manly charms. I've worn this St. Joseph, lo! these many years, and I'm still "heart whole and fancy free."
[Mr. and Mrs. B. exchange despairing glances.]
Mrs. B. Agnes, dear, do you never think what a delightful thing it is, or would be, to have a husband and a home of your own?
A. H. No, indeed, you dear thing, I much prefer other people's homes and husbands, for they never cause one the least annoyance.
Mrs. B. [in pretended wrath]. I've a good mind to send you home to your aunt at once.
A. H. Oh, don't, dear! I'm so fond of you. Come, let's go and consult Gordon on the dinner question. [Slips her arm around Mrs. B.'s waist and they leave the room together.]
Mr. B. [soliloquizing]. It's all very well for Cecily to ask me to invite those two young fops, Charley Legree and Everett Evans, in order to entertain Agnes, but I'd like a sensible man to talk to myself. I think I'll just step across fields and ask Owen Reynolds to come over for a game of ecarte after dinner. He's not fond of women. [Shakes his head.] By Jove! the one must have been a queen who drove him
