"Well, hang me if I can see a liniment of her face in yours, mum. I'm Jerry Thompson."
Mrs. Schwartz managed after a great effort to produce an incredulous sort of chuckle.
"Don't you believe it, mum?"
Slightly roused, the lady bubbled off a laugh, which started in her throat and seemed to die away in her slippers, then turned her pumpkin-like visage towards him, and slowly ejaculated, "I tousant believe ein vord of vot you spoke."
"Well, mum, they says, absence makes the heart grow fonder, isle of beauty, fare thee well; but I must observe that any little weakness as you may have felt for me I am happy to see is quite vanished. Good-day, mum."
"Stop, mine friend! vill you trink some schnapps?"
Jerry was about to decline the offer, but, thinking it might be considered impolite, he seated himself upon a bag of coffee, and, knowing the lady objected to long sentences, nodded an assent to her proposition.
Having filled two glasses, Mrs. Schwartz motioned to Thompson to take one; then, without more ceremony, observed, "My love to you," and in a moment set the glass down empty.
"God bless me!" ejaculated her visitor.
"Yaw, yaw! Gott pless you, mein friend!"