d like something wa'n't goin' just like she'd planned; for the
glances she shoots across the table get sharper and sourer, and
finally, when the roast is brought in, she whispers to the butler, and
the next thing J. Meredith knows, as he glances up from his carvin', he
sees James uncorkin' a bottle of fizz. Merry almost drops his fork and
gawps at Aunty sort of dazed.

"Meredith," says she, snappy, "go on with your carving! Young man, I
suppose you don't take wine?"

"N-n-no, Ma'am," says I, watchin' her turn my glass down. I might have
chanced a sip or two, at that; but Aunty has different ideas.

I notice that J. Meredith seems to shy at the bubbly stuff, as if he
was lettin' on he hated it. He makes a bluff or two; but all he does
is wet his lips. At that Aunty gives a snort.

"Meredith," says she, hoistin' her hollow-stemmed glass sporty, "to our
guests!"

"Ah, to be sure," says Merry, and puts his nose into the sparkles in
dead earnest.

Somehow the table chat livens up a lot soon after that. It was one of
the Miss Hibbs askin' him something about life abroad that starts Merry
off. He begins tellin' about Budapest and Vienna and a lot more of
them guidebook spots, and how comf'table you can live there, and the
music, and the cafes, and the sights, gettin' real enthusiastic over
it, until one of the sisters breaks in with:

"Think of that, Pansy! If we could only do such things!"

"But why not?" says Merry.

"Two women alone?" says a Miss Hibbs.

"True," says J. Meredith. "One needs an escort."

"Ah-h-h-h, yes!" sighs Violet.

"Ah-h-h, yes!" echoes Pansy.

"James," puts in Aunty just then, "fill Mr. Stidler's glass."

Merry wa'n't shyin' it any more. He insists on clickin' rims with the
Hibbs sisters, and they does it real kittenish. Merry stops in the
middle of his salad to unload that old one about the Irishman that the
doctor tried to throw a scare into by tellin' him if he didn't quit the
booze he'd go blind within three months. You know--when Mike comes
back with, "Well, I'm an old man, and I'm thinkin' I've seen most
everything worth while." Pansy and Violet shook until their chairs
creaked, and one of 'em near swallows her napkin tryin' to stop the
chuckles.

In all the time I've known J. Meredith I'd never heard him try to
spring anything comic before; but havin' made such a hit with this one
he follows with others, robbin' the almanac regardless.

"Oh, you deliciously funny