Madam,'-- my father bowed low to the beckoning of a fan, 'I trust your ladyship did not chance to overhear that last remark I made ?' The lady replied: 'I should have shut my eyes if I had.

I called you to tell me, who is the young man ?' 'For twenty years I have lived in the proud belief that he is my son!' 'I would not disturb it for the world.' She did me the honour to inspect me from the lowest waistcoat button to the eyebrows.

'Bring him to me to-night.

Captain DeWitt, you have forsaken my whist-tables.' 'Purely temporary fits of unworthiness, my lady.' 'In English, gout ?' 'Not gout in the conscience, I trust,' said my father.
'Oh! that's curable,' laughed the captain.
'You men of repartee would be nothing without your wickedness,' the lady observed.
'Man was supposed to be incomplete--' Captain DeWitt affected a murmur.
She nodded 'Yes, yes,' and lifted eyes on my father.

'So you have not given up going to church ?' He bent and spoke low.
She humphed her lips.