later the servant announced that Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius McGowan
were in the parlor.

First I decided to faint; then I changed my mind and tried to
figure out which would be the most cruelly effective way of killing
Bunch Jefferson.

Uncle Peter resented the unexpected arrival of these strangers,
because he wanted to sit around and have the home folks tell him
how sick he was.

"I'd like to know what Bunch Jefferson means by sending his
relatives over to us on a Sunday evening," my wife's uncle snapped.
"Why doesn't he worry old Bill Grey with them, eh? It's bad enough
for me to have to sneeze my head off before my own people, but I'll
be dod bimmed if I'm going to sit around the parlor and play solos
on my bronchial tubes for the edification of strangers--no, sir!"

Uncle Peter sniffled off to his apartments, and Peaches said she'd
try to entertain the visitors.

I concluded to help her some.

Skinski arose from the sofa and greeted us with his most elaborate
bow.

Ma'moselle Dodo didn't Society very much.

She sat in the middle of the room and sang soft lullabys to a
hold-over.