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nesideofMrs.Jessup'seating-housewasabenchundersometreeswheresheusedtositinthebreezeafterthesouth-boundhadbeenfedandgone.AndtheremeandPaisleyusedtocongregateaftersupperandmakepartialpaymentsonourrespectstotheladyofourchoice.Andwewassohonorableandcircuitousinourcallsthatifoneofusgottherefirstwewaitedfortheotherbeforebeginninganygallivantery.
"ThefirsteveningthatMrs.JessupknewaboutourarrangementIgottothebenchbeforePaisleydid.Supperwasjustover,andMrs.Jessupwasouttherewithafreshpinkdresson,andalmostcoolenoughtohandle.
"Isatdownbyherandmadeafewspecificationsaboutthemoralsurfaceofnatureassetforthbythelandscapeandthecontiguousperspective.Thateveningwassurelyacaseinpoint.Themoonwasattendingtobusinessinthesectionofskywhereitbelonged,andthetreeswasmakingshadowsonthegroundaccordingtoscienceandnature,andtherewasakindofconspicuoushullabaloogoingoninthebushesbetweenthebullbatsandtheoriolesandthejack-rabbitsandotherfeatheredinsectsoftheforest.AndthewindoutofthemountainswassinginglikeaJew's-harpinthepileofoldtomato-cansbytherailroadtrack.
"Ifeltakindofsensationinmyleftside--somethinglikedoughrisinginacrockbythefire.Mrs.Jessuphadmovedupcloser.
"'Oh,Mr.Hicks,'saysshe,'whenoneisaloneintheworld,don'ttheyfeelitmoreaggravatedonabeautifulnightlikethis?'
"Iroseupoffthebenchatonce.
"'Excuseme,ma'am,'saysI,'butI'llhavetowaittillPaisleycomesbeforeIcangiveaaudiblehearingtoleadingquestionslikethat.'
"AndthenIexplainedtoherhowwewasfriendscincturedbyyearsofembarrassmentandtravelandcomplicity,andhowwehadagreedtotakenoadvantageofeachotherinanyofthemoremushywalksoflife,suchasmightbefomentedbysentimentandproximity.Mrs.Jessupappearstothinkseriousaboutthematterforaminute,andthenshebreaksintoaspeciesoflaughterthatmakesthewildwoodresound.
"InafewminutesPaisleydropsaround,withoilofbergamotonhishair,andsitsontheothersideofMrs.Jessup,andinauguratesasadtaleofadventureinwhichhimandPiefaceLumleyhasaskinning-matchofdeadcowsin'95forasilver-mountedsaddleintheSantaRitavalleyduringtheninemonths'drought.
"Now,fromthestartofthatcourtshipIhadPaisleyFishhobbledandtiedtoapost.Eachoneofushadadifferentsystemofreachingoutfortheeasyplacesinthefemaleheart.Paisley'sschemewastopetrify'emwithwonderfulrelationsofeventsthathehadeithercomeacrosspersonallyorinlargeprint.IthinkhemusthavegothisideaofsubjugationfromoneofShakespeare'sshowsIseeoncecalled'Othello.'Thereisacolouredmaninitwhoacquiresaduke'sdaughterbydisbursingtoheramixtureofthetalkturnedoutbyRiderHaggard,LewDockstader,andDr.Parkhurst.Butthatstyleofcourtingdon'tworkwelloffthestage.
"Now,Igiveyoumyownr