"I know it," responded the good man, cutting up an orange, and passing a silver plate containing several slices to his fair lady; "here, Mrs. Prague, do regale yourself on this luscious fruit. It is the finest I have tasted this season."
"Dr. Prague, when I am discussing matters of importance, I do not wish to be insulted by such frivolities."
"Indeed, madam," said the doctor, withdrawing the plate, and proceeding leisurely to the gratification of his own palate.
There was a silence of some minutes, and then the lady, after fidgeting and arranging the folds of her brocade silk, resumed the conversation by saying, in a huffy tone, "May I inquire what you intend to do about it, sir?"
"Begging your pardon, madam," said the doctor, looking up from his orange, "of what were you speaking?"
The lady frowned frightfully at this fresh instance of his inattention to her discourse.
"I only wished to know if you thought of marrying Frank Sheldon to Annie Evalyn, in preference to your own daughter," she exclaimed, in a biting, sarcastic tone. The matter but not the manner of this speech seemed to rouse the doctor's attention.
"Frank Sheldon! Frank Sheldon!" he said quickly; "has he arrived from his travels then?"
"No, but he will arrive some time."
"O, yes, I trust so! But speaking of Annie,—our Annie you know, for I'm proud that we have such a treasure beneath our roof——"