The strange adventures of a house-boat Author:William Black Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: in the lamp-lit saloon; when all these things and many more have been put before her, the question comes— " Now, Peggy, what do you say ? Will you go with us ... more »?" " Will I ?" says Peggy. " Won't I!" And then she seems to think this answer too abrupt; and she goes round the table and kisses that small mite of a woman. " You are just too good to me," she says; and then she returns to her place. " You will bring your banjo, Miss Peggy ?" says one of us. "Oh.no!" " Why not ? Don't you ever perform out of London ? Bell took her guitar with her when we drove the phaeton northward." " That is different," she says. " A guitar sounds all right. But a banjo would be out of keeping." " Oh, we can't get on without ' Kitty Wells' and ' Carry me back to old Virginny.'" " There is a much more important thing," interposes Mrs. Threepenny-bit; and she eyes the young lady with severe and significant scrutiny. " We shall want a fourth for our party; and he may—I say he may—be a man; and even possibly a young man. Now, Peggy, I want to know if you are going to behave yourself?" Miss Peggy turns to the third member of this trio, with appealing and innocent and injured eyes. " Now, is that fair ? Is that kind ? Do I ever misbehave ?" " Never—I will swear it! But I see you know where to come to, you poor dear, when they say things about you. You know where sympathy and consolation are always waiting for you. Don't you mind them—you come to me—" " Who called her a White Pestilence ?" says a hushed, small voice. "What's that?" says Miss Peggy, whose ears are sharp enough. " Oh, yes; you must bring your banjo," one has to interpolate hastily. " Of course we can't do without' Kitty Wells,' you know, and ' Carry me back to old Virginny—' " " Who called her a W...« less