“Yes, coming here,” replied Mr. Smith.

“How unfortunate!” came from my lips, as I clasped my hands to my temples.

Now, Mr. and Mrs. Peters were people for whom we had no particular friendship.  We visited each other scarcely once a year, and had never reciprocated an evening to tea.  True, I had, on the occasion of meeting Mrs. Peters, about a week before, while stopping in the city, said to her, while praising my new country home: 

“You must come and see me sometime during the summer.”

The invitation was intended as a compliment more than anything else.  I didn’t particularly care about a visit from her; and certainly had no idea that she would take me at my word.  So much for insincerity.

“Go down and ask them into the parlor,” said I to Mr. Smith.  “I will dress myself and join you in a little while.”

In about half an hour I left my room, feeling really quite unwell.  I found my visitors walking in the garden, and their children ranging about like wild colts, to the particular detriment of choice shrubbery and garden beds.

“Oh, what a delightful place!” exclaimed Mrs. Peters, on my meeting her.  “I really envy you!  You see that I have accepted your very kind invitation.  I said to my husband to-day, says I, wouldn’t it be nice to make the Smiths a visit this afternoon.  They live at such a convenient distance; and it will be such a treat to the children.  Well, just as you like, said Mr. Peters.  And so, as soon as dinner was over, we got ready and came out.  Oh, I’m delighted!  What a sweet spot you have chosen.  I shall come and see you often.”

And thus she (sic) run on, while I smiled, and responded with all due politeness, and to a certain extent, hypocritical pretence of pleasure at the visit.

They had come to spend the afternoon, and take tea with us, of course, and, as the last stage went by at seven o’clock, I was soon under the necessity of leaving my guests, in order to engage in certain preliminary acts that looked towards an early supper.  Oh, how my head did throb; and with what an effort did I drag my weary feet about!

But, the longest trial—­the most painful ordeal has an end; and the end of this came at length.  Our visitors, after spending a few hours, and being served with tea, took their departure, assuring us, as they did so, that they had spent a delightful afternoon, and would be certain to come again soon.

In ten minutes after they had left the house, I was in bed.

Two whole weeks elapsed before I succeeded in getting a girl; and six times during that period, we had friends out from the city to take tea with us; and one young lady spent three whole days!