"Has it a back?"
"Yes, it has a back. There it is."
Meredith carefully removed a few twigs and shavings which lay upon the bench, seated himself, rested his arm along the back, and began puffing at his pipe again. But scarcely had he thus composed himself when the tea bell rang from the house.
"Do you hear that, now? Another move to make! Didn't I tell you so?"
"Not that I remember."
"Please to explain, colonel, what you expect to gain by always bobbing about as you do, like a drop of quicksilver."
"To hear you, one would take you for the laziest fellow in the universe."
"There's reason in all things. I keep my vital energies against the time of need, instead of wasting them in unnecessary gyrations. Ladies at the table! New Yorkers in full feather, or I'll be shot! Now, what the deuse have lace and ribbons to do in a place like this?"
During the meal, the presence of the strangers was a check upon their conversation.
"Crawford," said Meredith, when it was over, "have you had that sofa taken into my room?"