"Ain't they weltin' the daylights out o' that bell? All foolishness!Now they're ringin' the number -- one, two, three, four. Yes, sir,that's up in the West End. You goin'? Come on, then."

"No, Frank, I can't let you go. You've got your lessons to get.Well, now, mother, make up your mind if you're comin' along. Cora,what on earth are you doing out here in the night air with nothingaround you? Now, you mosey right back into that parlor, and don'tyou make a move off that piano-stool till your hour's up. Do youhear me? No. Frank. I told you once you couldn't go and that endsit. Stop your whining! I can't have you running hither and yon allhours of the night, and we not know where you are. Well, hurry up,then, mother. Take him in with you. 0h, just throw a shawl overyour head. Nobody 'll see you, or if they do they won't care."The apparatus trundles by, the bells on the trucks tolling sadly asthe striking gear on the rear axle engages the cam. A hurryingthrong scuffles by in the gloom. The tolling grows fainter, thethrong thinner.

"Good land! Is she going to be all evening? Wish 't I hadn'tproposed it. That's the worst of taking a woman anyplace. Fussand fiddle by the hour in front of the looking-glass. Em! (Be allover by the time we get there) 0h, Em! Em! . . . EM! (Hollermy head offl) EM! . . . . "Well, why don't you answer me? Well, I didn't hear you. How much long - 0h, I know about your 'minute.''Hour' you mean . . . . 0h, how do you do, Mrs. Conklin? Hello, Fwhite.Pleased to meet you, Miss Shoemaker. Yes, I saw in the paper youwere visiting your sister. This your first visit to our little burg?Yes, we think it's quite a place. You see, we're trying to make yourstay as interesting as possible . . . . 0h, no, not altogether on youraccount. No, no. Ha! Ha-ha-ha! Hum! ah! . . . Well, yes, if sheever gets done primping up. 0h, there you are. Miss Shoemaker, letme make you acquainted with my wife. Now, you girls'll have to geta move on if you want to see anything."

The male escorts grasp the ladies' arms and shove them ahead, thatbeing the only way if you are ever going to get any place. The womengasp and pant and make a great to-do.