"Why, what, mother? I was only going to say I'll be more than pleased if he doesn't steal the horse and buggy. I'll bet five dollars——"
"Oh!"
"O, I only mean I don't doubt he's half ruined both by now, and all to save a paltry hour."
"My son, it is not mine to squander. Ah! John, the hours are not ours!"
"Why, what are they? O! I see. Well, I wish whoever they belong to would come take 'em away!"
Cornelius was at that moment rejoicing that this one was peculiarly his. As he drove along the quiet Widewood road he was remarking to his charge:
"I arrove fum Pussy on the six o'clock train. One o' the fus news I get win' of is that you in town. Well! y'ought to see me!"
But his hearer refused to be flattered. "Wha'd you do—run jump in de riveh?"
"Jump in—I reckon not! I flew. Y'ought to see me fly to'a'ds you, sweet lady!"
The maiden laughed. "Law! Mr. Leggett, what a shoo-fly that mus' 'a' been! Was de conducto' ayfteh you?"