Papa Meyer thereupon drew Aunt Teresa still further away.

Even he was not quite so simple as not to know why the young people in there laughed so uproariously at this old-fashioned spinster of a bygone generation.
Papa Meyer, when he did address Aunt Teresa, tried to assume his most friendly air.
"Won't you take a seat, my dear kinswoman?
Oh, what a pleasure it is to see you at last!" "I have not exactly come here to bandy compliments," replied Teresa, dryly, "and it is not necessary to sit down for the sake of the few words I have come to say.

I can say them just as well standing up.

For two years we have not seen each other.

During that time you have placed a pretty considerable distance between us, and your mode of life has been such as to make it impossible for all eternity for us ever to approach one another again.