Haven't you?
_I've_ had it three times, and ... so many people have asked me for
cards that really I ... had the drains thoroughly looked to, and now
they're ... delicious, but rather overpowering in a _room_, I think!
&c., &c.

_Miss F.B._ (_with genuine feeling_).

Who would imagine one meek-voiced girl could have held her own, in a
deafening din!
But LOBELIA's scholars discovered soon she'd a dead-sure notion of
discipline;
For her satin palm had a sting like steel, and the rowdiest rebel
respected her,
When she'd stretched out six of the hardest lots in the Bible-Class
with a Derringer!

_Soc. Chat._ No, a very dull party, you could move about quite easily
in all the rooms, so we ... kicked the whole concern to shivers and
... came on here as soon as we could ... Capital dinner they _gave_
us, too ... &c., &c.

_Miss F.B._ (_with as much conviction as possible under the
circumstances_).

And the silence deepened; no creature stirred in the stagnant hush,
and the only sound
Was the far-off lumbering jolt, produced by the prairie rolling for
leagues around!

_Soc. Chat._ (_crescendo_). Oh, an old aunt of mine has gone in for
step-dancing--she's had several lessons ... and cut her knees rather
badly, y'know, so I put her out to grass ... and now she can sit
up and hold a biscuit on her nose ... but she really ought to mix a
little grey in her wig!

[_&c. &c., to the distraction of the Unsophisticated Guest,
who is getting quite interested in LOBELIA BANGS whom he
suddenly discovers, much to his surprise, on horseback._

_Miss F.B._

And on we cantered, without a word, in the midday heat, on our swift
mustangs.
I was only ignorant Cowboy CLEM--but I worshipped bright LOBELIA BANGS!

_Soc. Chat._ (_fortissimo_). Not for ages; but last time I met him he
was ... in a dreadful state, with the cook down with influenza ... and
so I suppose he's _married_ her by this time!

_Miss F.B._ (_excitedly_).

But hark! in the distance a weird shrill cry, a kinder mournful,
monotonous yelp--

(_Further irruption of Society Chatter_) ... is it jackal?--bison?--a
cry for help?

_Soc. Chat._ Such a complete _rest_, you know--so perfectly peaceful!
Not a soul to talk to. I _love_ it ... but, to really enjoy a tomato,
you must see it dressed ... in the _sweetest_ little sailor suit!

_Miss F.B._

My horse was a speck on the pampas' ve