ourselves. The madd'ing crowd seems to have a preference for the sunny
part of the ship. Now, then, for the siege of London. Who besieged it?"

"A lady."

"Did she succeed?"

"She did."

"Well, I am very glad to hear it, indeed. What was she besieging it
for?"

"For social position, I presume.

"Then, as we say out West, I suppose she had a pretty hard row to hoe?"

"Yes, she had."

"Well, I never can get at the story by cross-questioning. Now, supposing
that you tell it to me."

"I think that you had better take the book and read it. I am not a good
story-teller."

"Why, I thought we Americans were considered excellent story-tellers."

"We Americans?"

"Oh, I remember now, you do not lay claim to being an American. You are
English, I think you said?"