facetious.

Absalom, however, had taken her suggestion seriously.

"Is your composition written, Absalom?" she was asking as Tillie
turned from the window, her contemplation of her own composition
arrested by the sound of the voice which to her was the sweetest
music in the world.

"No'm," sullenly answered Absalom. "I didn't get it through till
it was time a'ready."

"But, Absalom, you've been at it this whole blessed day! You've
not done another thing!"

"I wrote off some of it."

"Well," sighed Miss Margaret, "let us hear what you have done."

Absalom unfolded a sheet of paper and laboriously read:

"GIRLS

"The only thing I took particular notice to, about Girls, is that
they are always picking lint off each other, still."

He stopped and slowly folded his paper.

"But go on," said Miss Margaret. "Read it all.'