Page:The mislaid uncle (IA mislaiduncle00raym).pdf/175

 : "Were you named for anybody in especial?"

For my mother's twin sister."
 * "For a very dear lady in especial.


 * "She was a Parkinson?"


 * "She was a Parkinson."


 * "She married a Smith?"

So did my mother another Smith, of another State. The world is full of them, Mr. Smith. We shall never be lonely because of a dearth of our patronymic." The lady was smiling in great amusement, and, it is possible, the amusement was tinctured by a spice of malice.
 * "She married a Smith, of Virginia.

name, if I may ask?"
 * "What was your mother's Christian

answer to the best of my ability. Her name was Sophronia."
 * "Surely you may ask, and I will


 * "Then you and I are—are"—

cousins."
 * "Bear up, Mr. Smith, we are first


 * "You—you knew this before?"


 * "I've known it ever since our branch