"I had the advantage, for I did expect to see you."
"How do you do, Mr. Landholm?"
"Why, as well as a man can do, in want of a shirt," said Rufus comically.
"Mr. Landholm? —"
"You see, Mrs. Nettley," Rufus went on, "I have come all the way from North Lyttleton to dine with a friend and my brother here; and now I am come, I find that without your good offices I haven't a ruffle to ruffle myself withal; or in other words, I am afraid people would think I had packed myself bodily into my valise, and thereby conclude I was a smaller affair than they had thought me."
"Mr. Landholm! — how you do talk! —but can I do anything?"
"Why yes, ma'am, — or your irons can, if you have any hot."
"O that's it!" exclaimed Mrs. Nettley as Rufus held out the crumpled frills, — "It's to smooth them, — yes sir, my fire is all out a'most, but I can iron them in the oven. I'll do it directly, Mr. Landholm."
"Well," said Rufus with a quizzical face, — "any way — if you'll ensure them against damages, Mrs. Nettley — I don't understand all the possibilities of an oven."
"We are very glad to have your brother in your room, Mr. Landholm," the good lady went on, as she placed one of her irons in the oven's mouth, where a brilliant fire was at work.