Dorothy.  Ah, here it is.

Yardsley.  What?  The lint?

Barlow.  Ho!  Is the world nothing but lint to you?  Of course not—­ the Gibson.  Charming, isn’t it, Miss Dorothy?

Dorothy (holding the picture up).  Fine.  Just look at that girl. 
Isn’t she pretty?

Barlow.  Very.

Dorothy.  And such style, too.

Yardsley (looking over Dorothy’s other shoulder).  Yes, very pretty, and lots of style. (Softly.) Very—­like some one—­some one I know.

Barlow (overhearing).  I think so myself, Yardsley.  It’s exactly like Josie Wilkins.  By-the-way—­ah—­how is that little affair coming along, Bob?

Dorothy (interested).  What!  You don’t mean to say—­Why, Mister
Yardsley!

Yardsley (with a venomous glance at Barlow).  Nonsense.  Nothing in it.  Mere invention of Barlow’s.  He’s a regular Edison in his own way.

[Dorothy looks inquiringly at Barlow.

Barlow (to Yardsley).  Oh, don’t be so sly about it, old fellow! Everybody knows.

Yardsley.  But I tell you there’s nothing in it.  I—­I have different ideas entirely, and you—­you know it—­or, if you don’t, you will shortly.

Dorothy.  Oh!  Then it’s some one else, Mr. Yardsley?  Well, now I am interested’.  Let’s have a little confidential talk together.  Tell us, Mr. Yardsley, tell Mr. Barlow and me, and maybe—­I can’t say for certain, of course—­but maybe we can help you.

Barlow (gleefully rubbing his hands).  Yes, old man; certainly.  Maybe we—­we can help you.

Yardsley (desperately).  You can help me, both of you—­but—­but I can’t very well tell you how.

Barlow.  I’m willing to do all I can for you, my dear Bob.  If you will only tell us her name I’ll even go so far as to call, in your behalf, and propose for you.

Yardsley.  Oh, thanks.  You are very kind.

Dorothy.  I think so too, Mr. Barlow.  You are almost too kind, it seems to me.

Yardsley.  Oh no; not too kind, Miss Andrews.  Barlow simply realizes that one who has proposed marriage to young girls as frequently as he has knows how the thing is done, and he wishes to give me the benefit of his experience. (Aside.) That’s a facer for Barlow.

Barlow.  Ha, ha, ha!  Another joke, I suppose.  You see, my dear Bob, that I am duly appreciative.  I laugh.  Ha, ha, ha!  But I must say I laugh with some uncertainty.  I don’t know whether you intended that for a joke or for a staggerer.  You should provide your conversation with a series of printed instructions for the listener.  Get a lot of cards, and have printed on one, “Please laugh”; on another, “Please stagger”; on another, “Kindly appear confused.”  Then when you mean to be jocose hand over the laughter card, and so on.  Shall I stagger?

Dorothy.  I think that Mr. Yardsley meant that for a joke.  Didn’t you, Mr. Yardsley?