The Elevator, William Dean Howells [best book clubs txt] 📗

: "No; if it happened to strike on that train anywhere, itmight spoil one of the folds. I can't risk it." A ring is heard atthe apartment door. They spring to their feet simultaneously.

MRS. ROBERTS: "There's Aunt Mary now!" She calls into thevestibule, "Aunt Mary!"

DR. LAWTON, putting aside the vestibule portiere, with affectedtimidity: "Very sorry. Merely a father."

MRS. ROBERTS: "Oh! Dr. Lawton? I am so glad to see you!" Shegives him her hand: "I thought it was my aunt. We can't understandwhy she hasn't come. Why! where's Miss Lawton?"

LAWTON: "That is precisely what I was going to ask you."

MRS. ROBERTS: "Why, she isn't here."

LAWTON: "So it seems. I left her with the carriage at the door whenI started to walk here. She called after me down the stairs that shewould be ready in three seconds, and begged me to hurry, so that wecould come in together, and not let people know I'd saved half adollar by walking."

MRS. ROBERTS: "SHE'S been detained too!"

ROB