It is one degree added to my humiliation that the ban I am under keeps me from friendly intercourse with so great a lady." "'Lady' ?" said my mother, her eyes widening.

"'Lady'?
Now it is you who are amused." "I don't understand!" he said.

"Certainly you are a lady, a very great lady." "Goodness, gracious me!" cried my mother, laughing until her dimples would have held water.

"That's the first time in all my life I was ever accused of such a thing." "Again, I do not comprehend," said Mr.Pryor, as if vexed about all he would endure.
Mother laughed on, and as she did so she drew back her hands and studied them.

Then she looked at him again, one pink dimple flashing here and there, all over her face.
"Well, to begin at the root of the matter," she said, "that is an enormous big word that you are using lightly.