"
I hastened to assure her that it was possible to avoid everything that
would bring a blush to the cheek of a matron of her years.
Mrs. Bowser at this rattled on without coming to any point, and, after
waiting to learn when she expected to claim my services, and seeing no
prospect of getting such information without a direct question, I
allowed my eyes and attention to wander about the room, feeding the
flow of speech, when it was checked, with a word or two of reply. I
could see nothing of Luella, and Mrs. Knapp appeared to be too much
taken up with other guests to notice me. I was listening to the flow of
Mrs. Bowser's high-pitched voice without getting any idea from it, when
my wandering attention was suddenly recalled by the words, "Mr. Knapp."
"What was that?" I asked in some confusion. "I didn't catch your
meaning."
"I was saying I thought it strange Mr. Knapp wouldn't go with us, and
he got awfully cross when I pressed him, and said--oh, Mr. Wilton, he
said such a dreadful word--that he'd be everlastingly somethinged if he
would ever go into such a lot of dens of--oh, I can't repeat his
dreadful language--but wasn't it strange, Mr. Wilton?"
"Very," I said diplomatically; "but it isn't worth while to wait for
him, then."
"Oh, laws, no!--he'll be home to-morrow, but he won't go."
"Home to-morrow!" I exclaimed. "I thought he wasn't to come till
Wednesday."
Mrs. Bowser looked a little uncomfortable.
"I guess he's old enough to come and go when he likes," she said.
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