He looked
at the ironical Dashboard with grave earnestness, and then said
quietly:--
"Then I reckon you wouldn't mind showin' me in thar?"
Dashboard was, I admit, a little staggered at this. But he
recovered himself, and, bowing ironically, led the way to the box.
I followed him and the Man from Solano.
Now, the belle in question happened to be a gentlewoman--descended
from gentlewomen--and after Dashboard's ironical introduction, in
which the Man from Solano was not spared, she comprehended the
situation instantly. To Dashboard's surprise she drew a chair to
her side, made the Man from Solano sit down, quietly turned her
back on Dashboard, and in full view of the brilliant audience and
the focus of a hundred lorgnettes, entered into conversation with
him.
Here, for the sake of romance, I should like to say he became
animated, and exhibited some trait of excellence,--some rare wit or
solid sense. But the fact is he was dull and stupid to the last
degree. He persisted in keeping the conversation upon the subject
of the lost baggage-checks, and every bright attempt of the lady to
divert him failed signally.
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