. Somers: "Wouldn't it be impolite?"
Campbell; "Oh, not for _you_."
Mrs. Somers: "If you're so sarcastic, I shall be afraid of you."
Campbell: "Under what circumstances?"
Mrs. Somers, dropping her eyes: "I don't know." He makes a rush upon
her. "Oh! here comes Mrs. Curwen! Shake hands, as if you were going."
IX
_MRS. CURWEN; MRS. SOMERS; MR. CAMPBELL_
Mrs. Curwen: "What! is Mr. Campbell going, _too_?"
Mrs. Somers: "Too? _You're_ not going, Mrs. Curwen?"
Mrs. Curwen: "Yes, I'm going. The likeness is perfect, Mrs. Somers. It's
a speaking likeness, if there ever was one."
Campbell: "Did it do all the talking?"
Mrs. Curwen: "It would--if Mrs. Roberts and Dr. Lawton hadn't been
there. Well, I must go."
Campbell: "So must I."
Mrs. Somers, in surprise: "_Must_ you?"
Campbell: "Yes; these drifts will be over my ears directly."
Mrs. Curwen: "You poor man! You don't mean to say you're _walking_?"
Campbell: "I shall be, in about half a minute."
Mrs. Curwen: "Indeed you shall not! You shall be driving--with me. I've
a vacancy in the coupe, and I'll set you down wherever you like."
Campbell: "Won't it crowd you?"
Mrs. Curwen: "Not at all."
Campbell: "Or incommode you in any way?"
Mrs. Curwen: "It will oblige me in every way."
Campbell: "Then I will go, and a thousand thanks. Good-by again, Mrs.
Somers."
Mrs. Curwen: "Good-by, Mrs. Somers. Poor Mrs. Somers! It seems too bad
to leave you here alone, bowed in an elegiac attitude over your
tea-urn."
Mrs. Somers: "Oh, not at all! Remember me to _Mr._ Curwen."
Mrs. Curwen: "I will. Well, Mr. Campbell--"
Mrs. Somers: "Mr. Campbell--"
Campbell: "Well?"
Mrs. Curwen: "To which?"
Campbell: "Both."
Mrs. Somers: "Neither!"
Mrs. Curwen: "Ah! ha, ha, ha! Mr. Campbell, do you know much about
women?"
Campbell: "I had a mother."
Mrs. Curwen: "Oh, a _mother_ won't do."
Campbell: "Well, I have an only sister who is a woman."
Mrs. Curwen: "A sister won't do, _either_--not your own. You can't learn
a woman's meaning in that way."
Campbell: "I will sit at your feet, Mrs. Curwen, if you'll instruct me."
Mrs. Curwen: "I shall be delighted. I'll begin now. Oh, you needn't
really prostrate yourself!" She stops him in a burlesque attempt to do
so. "And I'll concentrate the wisdom of the whole first lesson in a
single word."
Campbell, with clasped hands of entreaty: "Speak, blessed ghost!"
Mrs. Curwen: "Stay! Ah!
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