However, Sir, as that is his affair, and as I do not find it very interesting--no offense, Sir, for I shall always be happy to see my daughter-in-law--we had better, perhaps, find some other topic.

The art of life, my young friend, is to avoid what is disagreeable.

Don't you think Mr.Ele quite a remarkable man?
I regard him as an honor to your State, Sir." "A very great honor, Sir, and all the gentlemen at this charming dinner are honors to the States from which they come, and to our common country, Mr.Dinks.We younger men are content to dine upon veal and spring chickens so long as we know that such intellects have the guidance of public affairs." Mr.Abel Newt bowed to Mr.Dinks as he spoke, while that gentleman listened with the stately gravity with which a President of the United States hears the Latin oration in which he is made a Doctor of Laws.

He bowed in reply to the little speech of Abel's, as if he desired to return thanks for the combined intellects that had been complimented.
"And yet, Sir," continued Abel, "if my father should unhappily conceive a prejudice in regard to this elopement, and decline to know any thing of the happy pair, six hundred dollars, in the present liberal style of life incumbent upon a man who has moved in the circles to which your son has been accustomed, would be a very limited income for your son and daughter-in-law--very limited." Abel lighted another cigar.

Mr.Dinks was a little confounded by the sudden lurch of the conversation.
"Very, very," he replied, as if he were entirely loth to linger upon the subject.
"The father of the lady in these cases is very apt to be obdurate," said Abel.
"I think very likely," replied Mr.Dinks, with the polite air of a man assenting to an axiom in a science of which, unfortunately, he has not the slightest knowledge.
"Now, Sir," persisted Abel, "I will not conceal from you--for I know a father's heart will wish to know to what his son is exposed--that my father is in quite a frenzy about this affair." "Oh! he'll get over it," interrupted Mr.Dinks, complacently.