MOTHER.­ Did he have a kind of pepper-and-salt suit, with one of
the buttons worn?

MRS. PETERKIN.­ I noticed one of the buttons was off.

AMANDA.­ We're off the subject. Did you buy his book?

ELIZABETH ELIZA.­ He never offered us his book.

MRS. PETERKIN.­ He told us the same story,­we were going to
Providence; if we wanted to go to Boston, we must turn directly
round.

ELIZABETH ELIZA.­ I told him I couldn't; but he took the horse's
head, and the first thing I knew­ AMANDA.­ He had yanked you
round!

MRS. PETERKIN.­ I screamed; I couldn't help it!

ELIZABETH ELIZA.­ I was glad when it was over!

MOTHER.­ Well, well; it shows the disadvantage of starting
wrong.

MRS. PETERKIN.­ Yes, we came straight enough when the horse
was headed right; but we lost time.

ELIZABETH ELIZA.­ I am sorry enough I lost the exhibition, and
seeing you take the diploma, Amanda. I never got the diploma
myself. I came near it.