“Thet,” said he, “is the Methody preacher makin’ his quarterly visit to th’ old ladies.”
VIII
“TO MEET MR. CAVENDISH”
The card read, “To meet Mr. Cavendish.” I had not been in Boston long, and I must confess to a poor head for names, so I had no idea who Mr. Cavendish was or what he had done, but as he was to be at Mrs. Emerson’s, I knew he had done something.
There were only five guests there, besides Mr. Cavendish, when I arrived, and after we were introduced it so happened that Cavendish and I found ourselves talking together.
He looked tired, so I said as a starter: “Don’t you find your work exhausting?” I thought I’d play “twenty questions” with him, and determine what he had done.
“Sometimes it is, very. The expenditure of force fairly makes my throat ache.”