"Not literally!" she seemed bewildered.
"To be pointed at as 'a first class general purpose editor' is rather too much, don't you think?"
"I know, Mr. Renwick," she spoke sympathetically. "It sort of got onto your humility, I presume. But Miss Minnely thinks you are first class, or she would never have instructed Mr. Durley to say first class. That is cordial to you, and good business—to impress the visitors, I mean."
"Miss Minnely is very appreciative and kind. But the point is that I did not engage to be exhibited to flocks of gobemouches."
Miss Heartly pondered the term. "Please, Mr. Renwick, what are gobemouches?"
"I should have said The Plain People."
"Perhaps there have been rude ones—not subscribers," she said anxiously.
"No, all have acted as if reared on 'The Blessing.'"
She sighed in relief—then exclaimed in consternation:—"Can Mr. Durley have been—rude?" She hesitated to pronounce the dire word.
"Not at all, Miss Heartly. I do not blame Mr. Durley for exhibiting us as gorillas."