Sedley."
Off they go at a gallop. "I'm so delighted to meet you,"
says Mr. Sedley. "It's good to hear from anybody who
comes from our little town." (If he's a rollicking
humourist, Mr. Sedley calls it his little old "burg.")
"Oh, yes," answers Miss Smiles. "I'm from Winnipeg too.
I was so anxious to meet you to ask if you knew the
McGowans. They're my greatest friends at home."
"The--who?" asks Mr. Sedley.
"The McGowans--on Selkirk Avenue."
"No-o, I don't think I do. I know the Prices on Selkirk
Avenue. Of course you know them."
"The Prices? No, I don't believe I do--I don't think I
ever heard of the Prices. You don't mean the Pearsons?
I know them very well."
"No, I don't know the Pearsons. The Prices live just near
the reservoir."
"No, then I'm sure I don't know them. The Pearsons live
close to the college."
"Close to the College? Is it near the William Kennedys?"
"I don't think I know the William Kennedys."
This is the way the conversation goes on for ten minutes.
Both Mr. Sedley and Miss Smiles are getting desperate.
Their faces are fixed. Their sentences are reduced to--
"Do you know the Petersons?"
"No. Do you know the Appleby's?"
"No.
Pages:
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171