"Oh! he's in at supper now; there's no hurry," replied I; "and I like to
hear you talk."

"Well, there'll be less scandal in your remaining to hear us than there
would be if we sent you away, anyhow. How's little Miss Virginia, sister
to Poor Jack."

"She's quite well, and wants to come and see you, only mother won't let
her."

"Many thanks to your sister for her compliment; and not forgetting your
mother for hers, also. So your mother has given up 'making _lay_ on
reasonable terms'?"

"'Cause people wouldn't come."

"And that is a sufficient reason, even if she had not another; which is,
that she's never out of hot water without boiling more. Doctor, you're
as mute as a fish. You told me how to cure Jane and the dogs, now tell
me what's the dose for a cat and a kitten?"

"A ha'p'orth of liver, cut into small pieces."

"There'll be no difficulty in getting that down their throats, anyhow."

"Talking about liver, Mrs. St. Felix, I once knew a friend of mine who
cured some geese of a liver complaint."

"Had they been long in the East Indies, poor creatures?"