," says I. "That's nice."

I didn't get anything but a back view as he climbed out on the off side
and was led in by the Major; but you couldn't fool me on them
short-legged, baggy-kneed pants, or that black griddle-cake bonnet. It
was my little old Bishop, that I keeps the fat off from with the
medicine-ball work.

"Lucky he didn't see me," says I, "or he'd hollered out and queered
himself with the whole of Primrose Park."

I was figurin' on fadin' away to the other side of the house before he
showed up again; but I didn't hurry about it, and when I looks up again
there was the Bishop, with them fat little fingers of his stuck out, and
a three-inch grin on his face, pikin' across the road right for me. He'd
come out to wig-wag his driver, and, gettin' his eyes on me, he waddles
right over. I tried to give him the wink and shoo him off, but it was no
go.

"Why, my dear professor!" says he, walkin' up and givin' me the
inside-brother grip with one hand and the old-college-chum shoulder-pat
with the other.

I squints across the way, and there was the Major and the girls,
catchin' their breath and takin' it all in, so I sees it's no use
throwin' a bluff.

"How's the Bishop?" says I. "You've made a bad break; but I guess it's
a bit too late to hedge."

He only chuckles, like he always does. "Your figures of speech,
professor, are too subtle for me, as usual. However, I suppose you are
as glad to see me as I am to find you."

"Just what I was meanin' to spring next," says I, pullin' up a rocker
for him.

We chins awhile there, and the Bishop tells me how's he been out to lay
a cornerstone, and thought he'd drop in on his old friend, Major Binger.

"Well, well, what a charming place you have here!" says he. "You must
take me all over it, professor. I want to see if you've shown as good
taste on the inside as you apparently have on the out." And before I has
time to say a word about Jarvis's Aunt 'Melie, he has me by the arm and
we're headed for the parlor. I hadn't even opened the door before, but
we blazes right in, runs up the shades, throws open the shutters, and
stands by for a look.

Say, it was worth it! That was the most ladyfied room I ever put me foot
in. First place, I never see so many crazy lookin' little chairs, or
bow-legged tables, or fancy tea-cups before in my life. There wa'n't a
thing you could sit on without havin' to call the upholstery man in
afterward. Even the gilt sofa looked like it ou