"Yo' heah all dah ruction las' night, Maria, like dey wuz bringing up a dead man up de stairs?"
"Oi taught dey was gwine break down de house—"
"No," flounced Maria, "no ask-ee fuh me, me no no."
"But ent yo' hear um, Miss Collymore? Ni?"
"No harm meant, soul—"
"Didn't you, Mrs. Bright?"
"Yes, I heard it."
"Wha'm wuz, ni? Yo' know?" All eyes were turned upon her. But she calmly responded, "It was my husband. He went to a ball given by the tailors and he must have had too much ice cream—"
"Yes?" some one tittered.