The two young women, who were full of spirits and good humor, were
laughing most heartily, _sub silentio_, at the attention thus so
ceremoniously paid to their mother by a man whom, beyond all human
beings, she detested. Now, however, that he came to proffer his
"gallantry" to themselves, they were certainly rather hard pressed to
maintain or rather regain their gravity.

"Leedies," the Buck continued, "may I have the gallantry to help you
off?"

"Oh, thank you, it's too much trouble, Mr. English."

"None on airth, Miss Purcel--do let me have the high-flown
satisfaction."

"Oh, well," she replied, "since you will be so polite," and giving him
her hand she was about to go down, when suddenly withdrawing it, as if
recollecting herself, she said, nodding with comic significance toward
her sister Julia--"My sister, Mr. English, have you no gallantry for
her?"

"Ah," he whispered, at the same time gratefully squeezing her hand,
"you're a first-rate divinity--a tip-top goddess--divil a thing else.
Miss Joolia, may I presoome for to have the plisure and polite gallantry
to help you off the car; 'pon honor it'll be quite grateful and
prejudicial to my feelings--it will, I assoore you!"

"Bless me, whose is that wedding party, Mr. English?" asked Miss Julia,
pointing to the opposite direction of the road.