The parallel of the runaway horse was acted over, and I came to another stand-still.

Lord Chatterino now gallantly proposed that the whole affair should be referred, with full powers, to the ladies.

I could not refuse; and the plenipotentiaries retired, under a growling accompaniment of Captain Poke, who pretty plainly declared that women caused more quarrels than all the rest of the world, and, from the little he had seen, he expected it would turn out the same with monikinas.
The female sex certainly possess a facility of composition that is denied our portion of the creation.

In an incredibly short time, the referees returned with the following programme: PROTOCOL of an Interview between, &c., &c.
The contracting parties agree as follows, viz.: ARTICLE 1.

There shall be an amicable, logical, philosophical, ethical, liberal, general, and controversial interview.
ART.2.The interview shall be amicable.
ART.3.The interview shall be general.
ART.4.The interview shall be logical.
ART.5.The interview shall be ethical.
ART.6.The interview shall be philosophical.
ART.7.The interview shall be liberal.
ART.8.The interview shall be controversial.
ART.9.The interview shall be controversial, liberal, philosophical, ethical, logical, general, and amicable.
ART.10.The interview shall be as particularly agreed upon.
The cat does not leap upon the mouse with more avidity than Lord Chatterino and myself pounced upon the third protocol, seeking new grounds for the argument that each was resolved on.
"Auguste! cher Auguste!" exclaimed the lovely Chatterissa, in the prettiest Parisian accent I thought I had ever heard--"Pour moi!" "A moi! monseignear!" I put in, flourishing my copy of the protocol--I was checked in the midst of this controversial ardor by a tug at the bison-skin; when, casting a look behind me, I saw Captain Poke winking and making other signs that he wished to say a word in a corner.
"I think, Sir John," observed the worthy sealer, "if we ever mean to let this bargain come to a catastrophe, it might as well be done now.