"Mine is better than Dora's, and I know where it came from, and she
has not an idea," said Carl. His lines were:
"My good blade carves the casques of men,
My tough lance thrusteth sure,
My strength is as the strength of ten
Because my heart is pure."
"I don't care, for I can find out, and that is half the fun," Dora
replied, comparing hers with Louise's, which had lilies of the valley
on it, and these lines:
"I pray the prayer of Plato old--
God make thee beautiful within,
And may thine eyes the good behold
In everything save sin."
Uncle William put his card away before anybody had seen it, and
refused to show it, in spite of much coaxing.
"It is too complimentary; modesty forbids," Carl suggested.
"Why didn't you and Miss Helen favor us with something original, Mrs.
Howard?" asked Mr. Caruth.
"He is making fun of the Harp Man's Benefit," said Miss Hazeltine.
"I am afraid we exhausted our genius on that occasion," her cousin
answered, laughing.
"Uncle William, there is one thing you must tell us," said Bess, "and
that is, _when_ you were more surprised than to-night?"
"Oh, that was long ago!" he replied. "It was Aunt Marcia who surprised
me.
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