Page:The principal girl (IA principalgirl00snai).pdf/217

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would have taken a woman to have told what the sly dogs were at.

And then Miss Mary trod very hard on the foot of Eton and Ch: Ch:, which begged pardon humbly and introduced Mr. Horace Allwright and Mr. Johnny Dubosque, and piously hoped to its Maker that it hadn't got mixed in their names.

"Pleased to meet you, gentlemen," said Mr. Horace Allwright spaciously. "'Ave a drink."

The Olympians had had a drink already, but they had no objection to having another; and this accommodating disposition caused Mary to take them into favor at once, and they were invited to sit down.

"'Ere's a health to the bride," said Mr. Johnny Dubosque.

"Thank you, Johnny."

"I was just a-tellin' his lordship," said Mr. Horace Allwright, "that she was absolutely the finest Cinderella I've ever played to, and I've played to some of the first in my time, let me tell you. Good 'ealth, gentlemen."

And while Mr. Horace Allwright was happily engaged in pledging the health of the company, Mary proceeded to transfix the first Olympian with such a staunch, straight and demure gray eye that the heart of the famous athlete was literally pinned against the antimacassar of yellow plush upholstery which had