Soc.  Chat. Oh, you really ought to go—­so touching!  DICK and I both regularly howled all through the last Act ...  Not in the least, thanks.  Well, if there is a seat ...  You’re sure there are any ices?  Then, strawberry, please—­no, nothing to drink!... Will you allow me?...  Told she could dress hair perfectly, but I soon found she was ... a Swedenborgian, my dear, or something horrid ...  Haven’t you? I’ve had it three times, and ... so many people have asked me for cards that really I ... had the drains thoroughly looked to, and now they’re ... delicious, but rather overpowering in a room, I think! &c., &c.

Miss F.B. (with genuine feeling).

  Who would imagine one meek-voiced girl could have held her own, in a
      deafening din! 
  But LOBELIA’s scholars discovered soon she’d a dead-sure notion of
      discipline;
  For her satin palm had a sting like steel, and the rowdiest rebel
      respected her,
  When she’d stretched out six of the hardest lots in the Bible-Class
      with a Derringer!

Soc.  Chat. No, a very dull party, you could move about quite easily in all the rooms, so we ... kicked the whole concern to shivers and ... came on here as soon as we could ...  Capital dinner they gave us, too ... &c., &c.

Miss F.B. (with as much conviction as possible under the circumstances).

  And the silence deepened; no creature stirred in the stagnant hush,
      and the only sound
  Was the far-off lumbering jolt, produced by the prairie rolling for
      leagues around!

Soc.  Chat. (crescendo).  Oh, an old aunt of mine has gone in for step-dancing—­she’s had several lessons ... and cut her knees rather badly, y’know, so I put her out to grass ... and now she can sit up and hold a biscuit on her nose ... but she really ought to mix a little grey in her wig!

    [_&c. &c., to the distraction of the Unsophisticated Guest,
    who is getting quite interested in LOBELIA BANGS whom he
    suddenly discovers, much to his surprise, on horseback._

Miss F.B.

  And on we cantered, without a word, in the midday heat, on our swift
      mustangs. 
  I was only ignorant Cowboy CLEM—­but I worshipped bright LOBELIA BANGS!

Soc.  Chat. (fortissimo).  Not for ages; but last time I met him he was ... in a dreadful state, with the cook down with influenza ... and so I suppose he’s married her by this time!

Miss F.B. (excitedly).

  But hark! in the distance a weird shrill cry, a kinder mournful,
      monotonous yelp—­

(Further irruption of Society Chatter) ... is it jackal?—­bison?—­a cry for help?

Soc.  Chat. Such a complete rest, you know—­so perfectly peaceful!  Not a soul to talk to.  I love it ... but, to really enjoy a tomato, you must see it dressed ... in the sweetest little sailor suit!