The Grinder Papers — page 80: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GRINDER PAPERS. 75 Well, we were sipping our chocolate, and conversing, as we do converse at times when no one listens to us but the angels, when, oh, gracious goodness! I heard somebody scream : ‘There you are, Florabella! Idu declare, New York is the greatest place for meeting folks! How’s your ma? Hoppin’ mad with me yet, I reckon. Ain’t I glad to sit downs here bundle is as heavy as a ton of coal.” And down in the seat before us plumped Charity Grinder. It’s a mercy one of the cups didn’t fly at her head. I felt my fingers closing round the handle so closely. ‘“‘TIs it the lady from- the country?” asked Horace, in his charming, unaffected way. ‘‘ Weally, what does she want?” ‘‘T can't think,” I whispered. . Then I said, with a smile, for. in society we must, smile though our hearts are bleeding: - ‘‘Come in for refreshments, I suppose, Miss Grinder ?” ‘‘VYes,” said Charity. ‘‘Them waiters won’t hook my bundle if I sot it on the floor, will they ?” ‘Oh, no,” said I, looking at my watch. ‘‘Mr. Billiwinkle, I’m afraid we're late. Sorry to leave you, Miss Grinder, but we are going to a matinee.” Horace took the hint. ‘““Vewy sorry,” he said, and then he beckoned a waiter, and gave him a bank bill. “You see that elderly lady with a parcel?” he whispered. ‘Stuff her with charlotte russe and things, and keep the change.” ‘That will keep her safe,” he said tome. And we smiled, and bowed, and left, I thinking, as Horace so wittily remarked, that Charity was ‘‘safe” for an heur er se, GEomicboo (ele) gs)