Page:Counter-currents, Agnes Repplier, 1916.djvu/223

The Modest Immigrant to a large class of immigrant working-girls, for whose benefit philanthropic women had planned evening classes, dexterously enlivened by a variety of entertainments. I was not sure whether I ranked as useful or amusing, and the number of topics I was bidden to tactfully avoid, added to my misgivings; when suddenly all doubts were dispelled by the superintendent saying sweetly, "Oh, Miss Repplier, you were asked to speak for forty minutes; but I think your address had better be cut down to twenty-five. The girls are eager for their ice-cream."

I said I sympathized with so reasonable an impatience. Even at my advanced age, I prefer ice-cream to lectures.

But what did not flatter me was the clear understanding that my audience listened to me, or at least sat tolerantly for twenty 207