"Ah, but that ain't all it can do!" he cried. "Here's a blank cylinder. You jest talk at the machine while it's runnin', an' it'll talk back all you say."
This was too much for Rebecca's credulity, and Droop could not induce her to talk into the trumpet.
"You can't make a fool o' me, Copernicus Droop," she exclaimed.
"You try, Cousin Phœbe," he said at last.
Phœbe looked dubiously at her sister as though half of opinion that her shrewd example should be followed.
"You sure it'll do it?" she asked.
"Certain!" cried Copernicus, nodding his head with violence.
She stood a moment leaning over with her pretty lips close to the trumpet.
Then she straightened up with a face of comical despair.
"I don't know what to say," she exclaimed.