"I was born in the old town of Hitherford." "How funny!" exclaimed the girl.
"What is there funny about that ?" demanded John.
"Why, Rita was born in Hitherford." "Hitherford Centre," corrected John.

"Her father was a clergyman there." "Oh; so you knew it ?" "I knew, of course, that she was from Massachusetts," said John, "because she speaks English properly.

So I asked her where she was born and she told me....

My grandfather knew hers." "Isn't it--curious," mused the girl.
"What's curious ?" "Your meeting this way--as sculptor and model." "Rita is a very fine girl," he said.

"Would you mind handing me my pipe?
No, don't.