So Interested

1895

The young lady who is unequal to conversation is only safe when she confines herself to yes and no. Thus far she may not be especially interesting, but she at least keeps out of trouble. One such girl, who seemed to be interested in nothing "in the heavens above or the earth beneath," was one day left alone with a gentleman, who found the greatest difficulty in keeping up the conversation to what he considered a desirable level.

He thought helplessly of that other sustainer of a forlorn conversational hope, who tried one subject after another, with no result. The other man could not talk, but after a dozen topics had been vainly broached, he brightened, and said, "Try me on leather!" What, in this present case, could the young lady's "leather" be? Where did her interests lie?

At length the discouraged man had recourse to nonsense. A stuffed bird was set up in one corner of the room, and he mentally clutched at it for inspiration.

"Do you know what kind of a bird that is?" he asked.

"No," she said.

"I fancy it's an albatross!"

"Really?"

"Yes, and very likely the one that was shot by the 'Ancient Mariner.' "

The young lady leaned forward with a pretty semblance of interest.

"Is it, truly?" she asked, with enthusiasm. "How very glad I am to see it!" — Youth's Companion.