ic.

"De siety I'se enjoyin' at dis minit," said deceitful Dolf, "is enough
to turn de head of any gemman."

"Oh, we know all 'bout dat," said Vic.

"In course you does," returned Dolf, forgetting Clorinda, and trying to
seize Vic's hand, but so uncertain were his movements that she readily
escaped him.

Clorinda saw it all; it was fuel to the flame which consumed her.

"Miss Victory," said she, "yer needn't push me into de brook."

"Who's a pushin' of yer?" retorted Victoria, with equal acidity.

"Yer was, yer own self."

"I didn't--so dar! Guess somethin' ails yer head too, de way yer go
on--pushin' indeed."

"I scorns yer insinivations," said Clorinda, "and despises yer
actuations!"

"Jis' don't go pitchin' into me and callin' me names," retorted Vic;
"'cause I won't stand it."

"Ladies, ladies!" interposed Dolf. "Don't resturb de harmonium of our
walk by any onpleasant words."

"I ain't a sayin' nothin'," said Vic.

"Yer've said more'n I," returned Clo, "and I ain't gwine to be pushed
inter de ditch by nobody--thar!"

Clorinda was naturally more irritated than Vic, because Dolf had made no
effort to seize upon her hand, which trembled to give him a pardoning
clasp.

"Nobody wants ter push yer," said Vic.

"I don' know 'bout dat," said Clo, solemnly; "I b'lieve if I was
murdered in my bed I shud know whar ter look for de murderer."

"Sich subjects, Miss Clorinda, is not fit for yer lubly lips," said
Dolf; "don' gib dem houseroom, I begs."

"Mr. Dolf," returned Clorinda, with a severity that pierced like a
warning through the elation of Lothario's brain; "don' try none ob dem
flightinesses wid me; I ain't one ob dat sort."

"What sort?" asked Victoria.

"Neber yer mind," said Clo, with majesty; "neber yer mind, miss;
children don' comprehensianise sich like."

"I onderstands Miss Clorinda, and I venerates her sentimens," observed
Dolf; "but when a gemman finds hisself in sich siety as dis, de language
of compliments flows as naturally ter his lips as--as--cider from a junk
bottle."

This well-rounded period softened both the damsels a little; Dolf got
Clo on his right arm and Vic on his left; the support was not unwelcome
to himself just then; and he managed to keep them both in tolerable
humor until they nearly reached the house.

Whether Dolf stumbled, or Victoria gave a sly, vicious push, it was
difficult to tell in the darkness, but Clorinda went suddenly down full
length in the pat