Hattie.—“I like algebra too, but geometry is more interesting. I think it perfectly lovely.”
Nettie.—“I don’t believe either of you. Mathematics are a horrid bore anyway.”
Hattie.—“Mathematics are! O shade of Goold Brown!”
Nettie.—“Well, that ought to be correct. You wouldn’t say the ‘scissors is,’ would you?”
Hattie.—“I would if I wanted to, carissima mia.”
Carrie.—“You never call me Carissima, Hattie.”
Hattie.—“You see, you are Carrie in the positive, not cara, so you can’t be carissima in the superlative. Why don’t you laugh at my pun, you owls?”
Nettie.—“You don’t give time enough. I was just bringing my powerful mind to a focus on the punning point when you interrupted.”
Carrie.—“I was thinking of the dear, kind, old Signore Pozzese.”
Hattie.—“Mercy! Spare the adjectives. I had no idea you were so in love with that precious Italian professor; but you need not set your cap for him. He has no eyes but for one, and that is Signorina Clara. Everybody can see he’s lost his heart to her.”