There wasn't a woman over twenty-five in sight! And what do you think the wily old fox said?
Call him simple! Not by a circumstance! A society beau couldn't have done it better.

Can't guess?
Well, he said, 'I'd like to talk to you, Mrs.Purdie.' Fact! Of course she took it as a compliment, and was as pleased as could be.

Well, I don't know how on earth he ever got through his introduction or how he ever reached the dining-room, for my inamorata was so pretty that I thought of nothing till we were seated, and the host took her attention for a moment.

Then I looked across at chum, who was directly opposite, to see how he was getting on.

Oh, you fellows would have died to see it! There he sat, looking straight out into vacancy, so plainly laboring for something to say that I nearly exploded.