"And don't you notice how the minx tries to put on the lady?"
"Not at all, madam; why should she strive to assume what is her natural garb?"
"Now really, Hippe, you are getting incorrigible."
"Hippe" was a term of endearment, Mrs. Dr. Prague was accustomed to apply to her husband when she wished to be very killing and condescending, his Christian name being Hippocrates.
To this winning speech, however, the insensate Dr. vouchsafed no reply; so his lovely wife tacked about and said, "Well, Dr., to come to the point, this governess is a dangerous rival for your daughter."
"I know it," responded the good man, cutting up an orange, and passing a silver plate containing several slices to his fair lady; "here, Mrs. Prague, do regale yourself on this luscious fruit. It is the finest I have tasted this season."
"Dr. Prague, when I am discussing matters of importance, I do not wish to be insulted by such frivolities."
"Indeed, madam," said the doctor, withdrawing the plate, and proceeding leisurely to the gratification of his own palate.
There was a silence of some minutes, and then the lady, after fidgeting and arranging the folds of her brocade silk, resumed the conversation by saying, in a huffy tone, "May I inquire what you intend to do about it, sir?"
"Begging your pardon, madam," said the doctor, looking up from his orange, "of what were you speaking?"
The lady frowned frightfully at this fresh instance of his inattention to her discourse.
"I only wished to know if you thought of marrying Frank Sheldon to Annie Evalyn, in preference to your own daughter," she exclaimed, in a biting, sarcastic tone. The _matter_ but not the _manner_ of this speech seemed to rouse the doctor's attention.
"Frank Sheldon! Frank Sheldon!" he said quickly; "has he arrived from his travels then?"
"O, yes, I trust so! But speaking of Annie,--_our_ Annie you know, for I'm proud that we have such a treasure beneath our roof----"
"Dr. Prague! are you mad? A paltry governess a treasure! I consider it a shame and disgrace to our house, that a poor, low, dependent, is allowed an equality in the family, and admitted through our influence to the first classes in society. And I'm not the only one that marks the shocking impropriety. My son-in-law, Lawrence Hardin, is possessed of a discerning eye. He sees Kate loses wherever that girl is admitted."