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"'Twarn't no use to say nothin', she flew off into one o' her tantrums, and scolded me like all possessed. I don't like her, anyhow, and dat's all 'bout it!" "But is dat all?" questioned Dolf, in a disappointed tone. "No, it ain't all; jis' wait and don't go off de handle afore you knows which end you've got hold on." "But de tree, Clorindy," said Dolf; "tell me 'bout de tree."
Clo burst in; "it's my party, just 'member dat. It's enough to hev her company, widout her settin' up for a hostage." "Any thing to suit," said Caleb, patiently. "Wal, then I'll say that Miss Clorindy hopes to have the pleasure of Mr. so and so's company, and wants to see you to a little tea drinkin' this evening." "Lord!" cried Clo.
"He desarves deir 'preciation," said Dolf, loftily, with the air of a man so supremely great that he could well afford to allow ordinary people to claim their little virtues unchallenged. "Wal," said Clo, "arter all it needs trabbel and the world to develop a man proper." "Jis' so, Miss Clorindy; yer's allers rezact." He gave her a very tender glance, and Clo giggled in delightful confusion.
"Go 'long wid yer poety nonsense," said she, giving a coquettish toss to her head that made her gorgeous bandanna flutter as if suddenly electrified. "Go 'way wid sich, I say." "Don't call it nonsense, sweet Miss Clorindy," urged Dolf; "when a gemman disposes de tenderest feelins' ob his bussom at yer feet, don't jist at 'em."
Dolf smiled at the success of his falsehood, and made ready to clench the nail after driving it in. "Dat's what he tinks anyhow. Why, Miss Clorindy, he was a tryin' ter find out jist how much yer was wuth." "'Taint nobody's business but my own," cried Clo, angrily, "folks needn't be a pumpin' me; 'taint no use."
Dolf was frightened at once; when Clo got into one of her desponding humors she became very religious without delay; and he trembled with fear that she would condemn him to Methodist hymns and a prayer-meeting that very night. "Don't say dat, Miss Clorindy, now don't!" he exclaimed pathetically.
She made another grimace, unseen by Clorinda, which nearly sent Dolf into fits, but he restrained his merriment, and answered with the gravity of a judge: "Miss Clorindy overcomes whatever she puts on, but since yer wishes my honest 'pinion, I must say I tink blue's about de proper touch fur her."
To be called by such endearing epithets in two consecutive sentences, softened Clorinda greatly; this time something uncommon must be coming Dolf certainly was in earnest. "I don't see nothin' at my feet," said she, with a little giggle. "Yes, yer does, Miss Clorindy," pleaded Dolf; "yes, yer does now don't deny it." "La!" said Clorinda, in a delightful flurry, "you men is so confusin'."
"Bring de peppermint," suggested Othello. "Miss Clorindy, dear Miss Clorindy, what am it?" cried Dolf, with a sudden sinking at his heart. Clo would have had hysterics, but not being a fine lady, she gave two or three yells, kicked the table, pulled her frizzed hair, and shouted, amid her tears: "You Sally, git my bunnit quick!" She rose, and they crowded about her. "Whar be you gwine? What's up?"
"I don't mean ter be confusin', Miss Clorindy," said Dolf; "it's far from my wishes leastways wid you." There was a tender emphasis on the concluding pronoun which quite upset Clorinda. She allowed the carrots to fall back in the pan of water, and seated herself on a stool near by if anything serious was coming she would receive it with dignity befitting the occasion.
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