Ha, ha, ha! I don't think I shall ever get over it."

McIlheny: "Sure it _is_ good! Hu, hu, hu, hu! Mary, it's what ye'd
call a bull, if it was Irish, I'm thinkun'; an' it's no bad bull as it
is, my dear."

Mrs. McIlheny, laughing: "Ye're right there, Mike. It's as fine a bull
as ever there was."

Campbell: "And my friend here insisted on going over and speaking to
the lady, in hopes she could help him out of the difficulty. I suppose
he bungled it; he only wanted to ask her if she'd seen a cook here,
who had an appointment to go out of town with a gentleman. I'd been
joking him about it, and he thought he must do something; and I fancy
he made a mess of it. He was a good deal worked up. Ha, ha, ha! Ah,
ha, ha, ha!" Mr. and Mrs. McIlheny join in his laugh, and finally
Roberts himself.

The Colored Man who calls the Trains, coming and going: "Cars for
Auburndale, Riverside, Pine Grove, and Newton Lower Falls. Express to
Auburndale, Track No. 7."

Mrs. McIlheny: "There's our train. Mike! Come!"

McIlheny: "So 'tis, Mary! Well, I'm hawpy to make yer acquaintance,
gentlemen; and if ye're ever in the City Hahl when the Council is
sittun', and ye'll send in yer names to Mike McIlheny, I'll be pl'ased
to show ye ahl the attintion in me power. Ye must excuse me _now_;
we're jist runnun' out to the Fahls to pass Sunday at a cousin's of
Mrs. McIlheny's." He snakes hands with Roberts and Campbell, and runs
out, followed by his wife.

IV. _ROBERTS AND CAMPBELL_

Campbell: "Distinguished public character. Well, we're out of that,
Roberts. I had to crowd the truth a little for you, but I fetched the
belligerent McIlheny. What are you going in for next?"

Roberts: "I--upon my word, I haven't the least idea. I think I shall
give up trying to identify the cook. Agnes must do it herself when she
comes here."

Campbell: "Oh no! _That_ won't do, old fellow. The cook may come here
and give you the slip before Agnes gets back."

Roberts: "What would you do?"

Campbell: "Well, I don't know; I don't like to advise, exactly; but it
seems to me you've got to keep trying. You've got to keep your eye out
for respectable butter-balls, and not let them slip through your
fingers."

Roberts: "You mean, go up and speak to them? I _couldn't_ do that
again."

Campbell: "Well, of course you didn't make a howling success with Mrs.
McIlheny; but it wasn't a dead-failure either. But you must use a
little more diplomacy--lead up to t