A fellow can't live here without a wife: "'Den lay down de shubble and de hoe, Den hang up de fiddle and de bow-- For poor old Ned--' "Yah! Can't sing! Out of practice! Got a cold! Instrument needs tuning! Excuse me! He! he!" There was some other talk, in a voice too low for Albert to hear, though he listened with both ears, waiving all sense of delicacy about eavesdropping in his anger and his desire to rescue Katy.

Then Westcott, who had evidently been drinking and was vinously frank, burst out with: "Think I'd marry an old girl! Think I'd marry a smart one! I want a sweet little thing that would love me and worship me and believe everything I said.

I know! By George! He! he! That Miss Minorkey at the table! She'd see through a fellow! Now, looky here, boys, I'm goin' to be serious for once.

I want a girl that'll exert a moral influence over me, you know! But I'll be confounded if I want too much moral influence, by George, he! he! A little spree now and then all smoothed over! I need moral influence, but in small doses.

Weak constitution, you know! Can't stand too much moral influence.