t's a scheme and a half," said Boswell, with more enthusiasm than I
had expected. "I'll do it, only instead of trying to get these people
to make a pilgrimage to your shrine, which I think they would decline to
do--Shakespeare, for instance, wouldn't give a tuppence to inspect
your birthplace as you have inspected his--I'll institute a series of
'Boswell's Personally Conducted Pleasure Parties,' and make you my agent
here. That, you see, will naturally make your home our headquarters, and
I think the scheme would work a charm, because there are a great many
well-known Stygians who are curious to revisit the scenes of
their earlier state, but who are timid about coming on their own
responsibility."
"I see," said I. "Immortals are but mortal after all, with all the
timidity and weaknesses of mortality. But I agree to the proposition,
and if you wish it I'll prepare to give them a rousing old time."
"And be sure to show them something characteristic," said Boswell.
"I will," I replied; "I may even get up a trolley-party for them."
"I don't know what a trolley-party is, but it sounds well," said
Boswell, "and I'll advertise the enterprise at once. 'Boswell's
Personally Conducted Pleasure Parties. First Series, No. 1. Trolleying
Through Hoboken. For the Round Trip, Four Dollars. Supper and All
Expenses Included. No Tips. Extra Lady's Ticket, One Dollar.'"
"Hold on!" I cried. "That can't be. These affairs will really have to be
stag-parties--with my wife away, you know."
"Not if we secure a suitable chaperon," said Boswell.
"Anyhow!" said I, with great positiveness. "You don't suppose that in
the absence of my family I'm going to have my neighbors see me cavorting
about the country on a trolley-car full of queens and duchesses and
other females of all ages? Not a bit of it, my dear James. I'm not a
strictly conventional person, but there are some points between which I
draw lines. I've got to live on this earth for a little while yet, and
until I leave it I must be guided more or less in what I do by what the
world approves or disapproves."
"Very well," Boswell answered. "I suppose you are right, but in the
autumn, when your family has returned--"
"We can discuss the matter again," said I, resolved to put off the
question for as long a time as I could, for I candidly confess that I
had no wish to make myself responsible for the welfare of such Stygian
ladies as might avail themselves of the opportunity to go
|