Her nephew bent over her ear-trumpet.
“Clover!” he howled, with all the strength he owned.
“I heard before,” said Aunt Mary, somewhat coldly.
“Come on and dine with us, Clover,” said Jack; “that’ll make four.” (By the way, isn’t it odd how many people ask their friends to dinner for the simple reason that, arithmetically considered, each counts as one!)
“All right, I will,” said Clover, in his languid drawl.
Aunt Mary saw his lips.
“It’s no use my deceivin’ you as to my bein’ a little hard of hearin’,” she said to him, “because you can see my ear-trumpet; so I’ll trouble you to say that over again.”
“All right, I will,” Clover wailed, good-humoredly.
“What?” asked Aunt Mary. “I didn’t—”
Jack cut her short by leading the party inside.