"Let me see you home," said Mr. BUMSTEAD, hastily holding out an arm.
"I'll tell the family it's only vertigo."

"Why, nothing is the matter with me," pleaded Mr. DIBBLE. "I've only
been having a talk with my ward."

"I'll bet cloves for two that she didn't say she preferred me to NED,"
insinuated Mr. BUMSTEAD, breathing audibly through his nose.

"Then you'll not lose," was the answer; "for she did not tell me whom
she preferred to the one she wishes to marry. They never do; and
sometimes it is only discovered in Indiana. You and I surrender our
respective guardianships on Christmas, Mr. BUMSTEAD; until when
good-bye; and be early marriage their lot!"

"Be early Divorce their lot!" said BUMSTEAD, thrusting his book of
organ-music so far under his coat-flap that it stuck out at the back
like a curvature of the spine.

"I said marriage," cried Mr. DIBBLE, looking back.

"I said Divorce," retorted Mr. BUMSTEAD, thoughtfully eating a clove,
"Don't one generally involve the other?"


[Footnote A: Oh, see here now, this is really too bad! The manner in
which the great American Adapter is all the time making totally
unexpected and vicious passes at the finest old cherished institutions
of the age is simply frightful. PUNCHINELLO should prevent it?--Well,
PUNCHINELLO _did_ remonstrate at an early stage of the Adaptation; and