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 "Well, my dear, I was very much relieved not to; in fact, I was overjoyed, but it certainly makes me laugh! First place, Mrs. Roberts said to me, 'Oh, Mrs. Green, I want you to give us a little talk on art at the next meeting

"I know; you told me"

"And I said, I simply couldn't"

"You could, too, Kate, you could do it marvelously, very well indeed."

"I said I'd never done such a thing in my life, I'd be scared to death, but Mrs. Roberts said she wouldn't take no for an answer, Well, and so I just mentioned it to one or two people, and they all said Mrs. Roberts never took no for an answer, and I'd better be ready, and Mrs. Jackson told me that after they came home from their trip to Italy, Mrs. Roberts asked her to give a talk on 'My Rambles in Rome,' and Mrs. Jackson said she couldn't; but Mrs. Roberts called on her just the same, and Mrs. Jackson said she thought she was going to faint, and she was absolutely unprepared, but she had to do it. You remember that time, Carrie?"

"I guess no one has much of a chance to forget any: thing connected with the Jacksons' trip to Italy; the poor things have certainly talked enough about it," said Carrie, pitying in order not to envy.

"So, my dear, I saw her on Monday in Small's, and she said she knew I really wouldn't mind just saying a few words, just simply and naturally as I would