"Aggy," whispered Podge, coming in, "there's Mr. Calvin Van de Lear, our
future minister. He's elegantly dressed, and has a nosegay in his hand."
"Can't you entertain him, dear?"
"I would be glad enough, but he asked in a very decided way for you."
"For me?"
Agnes looked distressed.
"Yes; he said very distinctly, 'I called to pay my respects particularly
to Miss Agnes to-night.'"
Agnes left the room, and Duff Salter and Podge were again together.
Podge could hear plainly what was said in the front parlor, and partly
see, by the brighter light there, the motions of the visitor and her
friend. She wrote on Duff Salter's tablet, "A deaf man is a great
convenience!"
"Why?" wrote the large, grave man.
"Because he can't hear what girls say to their beaux."
"Is that a beau calling on our beautiful friend?"
"I'm afraid so!"
"How do you feel when a beau comes?"
"We feel important."
"You don't feel grateful, then; only complimented."
"No; we feel that on one of two occasions we have the advantage over a
man. We can play him like a big fish on a little angle."
"When is the other occasion?"
"Some women," wrote Podge, "play just the same with the man they
marry!"
Duff Salter looked up surprised.
"Isn't that wrong?" he wrote.
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