Miss P.’s V. That was my fault.  I kept him by me.  You see, I believed you had quite decided to accept Mr. CULCHARD.

Miss T.’s V. Well, it does strike me that, considering he was adoring me all this time, he let himself be managed tolerable easy.

    [PODBURY shakes his head in protestation.

Miss P.’s V. Ah, but let me explain.  I could only keep him quiet by threatening to go home by myself, and dear BOB is such a devoted brother that—­

Podb. Brother!  I say.  CULCHARD, she can’t be meaning BOB all this time!  She can’t!  Can she now?

Culch. How on earth can I tell?  If it is so, you must be a philosopher, my dear fellow, and bear it—­that’s all.

Miss P.’s V. That does alter the case, doesn’t it?  And I may tell him there’s some hope for him?  You mustn’t judge him by what he is with his friend, Mr. PODBURY.  BOB has such a much stronger and finer character!

Miss T.’s V. Oh well, if he couldn’t stand up more on his edge than Mr. PODBURY!  Not that I mind Mr. PODBURY any, there’s no harm in him, but he’s too real frivolous to amount to much.

Podb. (collapsing).  Frivolous!  From her too!  Oh, hang it all!

    [He buries his head in his hands with a groan.

Miss T.’s V. Well, see here, HYPATIA.  I’ll take your brother on trial for a spell, to oblige you—­there.  I cann’t say more at present.  And now—­about the other.  I want to know just how you feel about him.

Culch. The other!—­that’s Me!  I wish to goodness you wouldn’t make all that noise, PODBURY, just when it’s getting interesting!

Miss P.’s V. (very low).  What is the good?  Nothing will bring him back—­now!

Culch. Nothing?  How little she knows me!

Miss T.’s V. I hope you don’t consider me nothing.  And a word from me would bring him along pretty smart.  The only question is, whether I’m to say it or not?

Miss P.’s V. (muffled).  Dar-ling!

Culch. I really think I might almost venture to go down, now, eh, PODBURY? (No answer.) Selfish brute! [Indignantly.

Miss T.’s V. But mind this—­if he comes, you’ve got to care for him the whole length of your boa—­you won’t persuade him to run in couples with anybody else.  That’s why he broke away the first time—­and you were ever so mad with me because you thought I was at the bottom of it.  But it was all his pride.  He’s too real independent to share chances with anybody alive.

Culch. How thoroughly she understands me!

Miss T.’s V. And I guess CHARLEY will grow out of the great Amurrcan Novel in time—­it’s not going ever to grow out of him, anyway!

Culch. (bewildered).  CHARLEY?  I don’t see why she should mention VAN BOODELER now!