"HURRY!... And Primmie Cash, if you scorch that toast-bread I'll scrape
off the burned part and make you eat it, I declare I will. Now you lie
right still, Mr.--er--Bangs, did you say your name was?"

"Yes, but really, madam--"

"My name is Phipps, Martha Phipps."

"Really. Mrs. Phipps--"

"Miss, not Mrs."

"I beg your pardon. Really, Miss Phipps, I cannot permit you to take
so much trouble. I must go on, back to the village--or--or somewhere.
I--Dear me?"

"What is it?"

"Nothing, nothing, my head is rather confused--dizzy. I shall be all
right again, shortly. I am ashamed of myself."

"You needn't be. Anybody that has walked 'way down here, a night like
this, on an empty stomach--" She paused, laughed, and exclaimed, "Of
course, I don't mean you walked on your stomach, exactly, Mr. Bangs."

Galusha smiled, feebly. "There were times when I began to think I should
be forced to," he said.

"I don't doubt it. There, there! now don't try to talk any more till