Encouraged, therefore, by this unmistakable interest and the amiable attitude of attention which Dennis, with characteristic ingenuousness, accepted as a tribute to the narrative, he exclaimed:
“An’ isn’t it great, now? Did you ever hear such a tale as that?”
“I never did,” was the smiling reply.
“An’ wasn’t that Raikes a div—a tight one, I mean?”
“He was, indeed,” assented the lady, as she reviewed this sordid character and the incidents surrounding him, and contrasted the tumult of phrase and situation with her genial Addison and her placid Irving.
“An’ would you like to hear the rest?” asked Dennis, as he produced the remaining bosom of Series B.
“Yes,” replied the lady, “I believe I would. But just a moment before you begin,” and regarding this oblivious young man with an expression in which a degree of speculation still lingered to tantalize its suggestion of frank indorsement, she hazarded:
“You have not lived in New York long?”
Wondering at the acuteness of this observation, Dennis responded by according to her the exact time of his brief residence.
“Ah!” exclaimed the lady, “I thought so.”