Mrs. W. Mr. Wilkins, I'm going to tell you a secret.

Mr. W. Oh! I don't want to hear your secrets—keep them to yourself.

Mrs. W. It's about Mary Jane's singing.

Mr. W. What?

Mrs. W. Mary Jane, you know—her singing.

Mr. W. I don't know, and I don't want to; she shan't take lessons, so dry up.

Mrs. W. But she shall take them!

Mr. W. I say she shan't!

Mrs. W. She shall, and you can't help it.