“She did.”

“Well, I am very glad to hear it, indeed. What was she besieging it for?”

“For social position, I presume.

“Then, as we say out West, I suppose she had a pretty hard row to hoe?”

“Yes, she had.”

“Well, I never can get at the story by cross-questioning. Now, supposing that you tell it to me.”

“I think that you had better take the book and read it. I am not a good story-teller.”

“Why, I thought we Americans were considered excellent story-tellers.’

“We Americans?”

“Oh, I remember now, you do not lay claim to being an American. You are English, I think you said?”