“‘Well,’ sais I, ‘it wouldn’t be decent if they wern’t enveloped in them.’
“She looked down to blush, but it didn’t come natural, so she looked up and smiled (as much as to say, do get out you impudent critter. I know its bunkum as well as you do, but don’t bother me. I have a part to play.) Then she rose and looked at her watch, and said the lecture hour for botany has come.
“‘Well,’ sais I, a taking up my hat, ‘that’s a charming study, the loves of the plants, for young ladies, ain’t it? they begin with natur, you see, and—(well, she couldn’t help laughing). ‘But I see you are engaged.’
“‘Me,’ said she, ‘I assure you, Sir, I know people used to say so, afore General Peleg Smith went to Texas.’
“‘What that scallawag,’ said I. ‘Why, that fellow ought to be kicked out of all refined society. How could you associate with a man who had no more decency than to expect folks to call him by name!’
“‘How?’ said she.
“‘Why,’ sais I, ‘what delicate-minded woman could ever bring herself to say Pe-leg. If he had called himself Hujacious Smith, or Larger-limb Smith, or something of that kind, it would have done, but Peleg is downright ondecent. I had to leave Boston wunst a whole winter, for making a mistake of that kind. I met Miss Sperm one day from Nantucket, and says I, ‘Did you see me yesterday, with those two elegant galls from Albany?’
“‘No,’ said she, ‘I didn’t.’
“‘Strange, too,’ said I, ‘for I was most sure I caught a glimpse of you, on the other side of the street, and I wanted to introduce you to them, but warn’t quite sartain it was you. My,’ sais I, ‘didn’t you see a very unfashionable dressed man’ (and I looked down at my Paris boots, as if I was doing modest), ‘with two angeliferous females? Why, I had a leg on each arm.’
“She fairly screamed out at that expression, rushed into a milliner’s shop, and cried like a gardner’s watering-pot. The names she called me ain’t no matter. They were the two Miss Legges of Albany, and cut a tall swarth, I tell you, for they say they are descended from a govenor of Nova Scotia, when good men, according to their tell, could be found for govenors, and that their relations in England are some pumpkins, too. I was as innocent as a child, Letty.’