“Your aunt Jooly,” he said, after a pause, “has had an interesting mail. She has been offered the presidency—”
“Of the United States?” asked Netty, with a little laugh, seeing that Joseph paused.
“Not yet,” he answered, with deep gravity. “Of the Massachusetts Women Bachelors' Federation.”
“Oh!”
“She'll accept,” opined Joseph P. Mangles, lugubriously.
“Is it a great honor?”
“There are different sorts of greatness,” Joseph replied.
“What is the Massachusetts Women Bachelors' Federation?”
Joseph Mangles did not reply immediately. He stepped out into the road to allow a lady to pass. He was an American gentleman of the old school, and still offered to the stronger sex that which they intend to take for themselves in the future.
“Think it is like the blue-ribbon army,” he said, when he returned to Netty's side. “The sight of the ribbon induces the curious to offer the abstainer drink. The Massachusetts Bachelor Women advertise their membership of the Federation, just to see if there is any man around who will induce 'em to resign.”