Yardsley. I hope it goes all right to-night. But, I must say, Idon't like the prospect. This beastly behavior of Henderson's hasknocked me out.

Perkins. What's the matter with Henderson?

Mrs. Perkins. He hasn't withdrawn, has he?

Yardsley. That's just what he has done. He sent me word thismorning.

Mrs. Perkins. But what excuse does he offer? At the last moment,too!

Yardsley. None at all--absolutely. There was some airy persiflagein his note about having to go to Boston at six o'clock.Grandmother's sick or something. He writes so badly I couldn't makeout whether she was rich or sick. I fancy it's a little of both.Possibly if she wasn't rich he wouldn't care so much when she fellill. That's the trouble with these New-Englanders, anyhow--they'vealways got grandmothers to fall down at crucial moments. Next time Igo into this sort of thing it'll be with a crowd without knownancestors.