“Good evening,” said Airy, suddenly.
“Hello!” exclaimed Brick, starting to his feet. “Lord-a-massy, I thought it was a ghos’. How be you, Airy?”
“Very well, thank you,” she said, mincing her words.
“Set down,” said Brick, hospitably, pushing a stool toward her.
“Thank you,” she said, leaning against the doorway, “I can’t set—I mean, sit down—with a stable boy. I’m a-goin’, a-going, I should say, to be a lady.”
“Aint you give up that nonsense yet?” he said, agreeably, and dropping his bridle he got up and lounged toward her.
“I never shall give it up,” she said, solemnly.
“There always was somethin’ creepy about you, Airy,” said Brick, uneasily. “I say charms when I’m round wid you.”
“What kind of charms?” she asked, seriously.
“O, ‘Debbil, debbil, nevvah die,’ an’ ‘The bogie’s got a lantern hangin’ out for me dis night.’”