"'To see Minnie!' said she: and then she told me she wasn't up.
"'Ain't up?' said I; 'and it so bright and early! Why, what's got her? Well, you just go and tell her I'm here, and I'll just step inside and wait till she comes down,' said I.
"But the old lady didn't budge.
"'I'm not a servant,' she said, very stiff; 'I'm her aunt, and her guardian, and I allow no messages to pass between her and strange gentlemen.'
"'Strange gentlemen!' I cried. 'Why, ain't I engaged to her?'
"'I don't know you,' says she.
"'Wasn't I introduced to you?' says I.
"'No,' says she; 'I don't know you.'
"BUT I SAVED HER LIFE."