A tranquil snore was Stuffy 's sole reply , and a general laugh restored peace for the moment . But Josie loved to harass the lords of creation who asserted themselves too much , and bided her time for another attack till she had secured more tennis . She got another game ; for Dolly was a sworn knight of dames , so he obeyed her call , leaving Bess to sketch George as he lay upon his back , his stout legs crossed , and his round red face partially eclipsed by his hat . Josie got beaten this time and came back rather cross , so she woke the peaceful sleeper by tickling his nose with a straw till he sneezed himself into a sitting posture , and looked wrathfully about for ` that confounded fly ' . ` Come , sit up and let us have a little elegant conversation ; you `` howling swells '' ought to improve our minds and manners , for we are only poor `` country girls in dowdy gowns and hats '' , ' began the gad-fly , opening the battle with a sly quotation from one of Dolly 's unfortunate speeches about certain studious damsels who cared more for books than finery . ' I did n't mean you ! Your gowns are all right , and those hats the latest thing out , ' began poor ` Dolphus , convicting himself by the incautious exclamation . ` Caught you that time ; I thought you fellows were all gentlemen , civil as well as nice . But you are always sneering at girls who do n't dress well and that is a very unmanly thing to do ; my mother said so ' ; and Josie felt that she had dealt a shrewd blow at the elegant youth who bowed at many shrines if they were well-decorated ones . ` Got you there , old boy , and she 's right . You never hear me talk about clothes and such twaddle , ' said Stuffy , suppressing a yawn , and feeling for another bon-bon wherewith to refresh himself . ` You talk about eating , and that is even worse for a man . You will marry a cook and keep a restaurant some day , ' laughed Josie , down on him at once . This fearful prediction kept him silent for several moments ; but Dolly rallied , and wisely changing the subject , carried war into the enemy 's camp . ` As you wanted us to improve your manners , allow me to say that young ladies in good society do n't make personal remarks or deliver lectures . Little girls who are not out do it , and think it witty ; but I assure you it 's not good form . ' Josie paused a moment to recover from the shock of being called ' a little girl ' , when all the honours of her fourteenth birthday were fresh upon her ; and Bess said , in the lofty tone which was infinitely more crushing than Jo 's impertinence : ` That is true ; but we have lived all our lives with superior people , so we have no society talk like your young ladies . We are so accustomed to sensible conversation , and helping one another by telling our faults , that we have no gossip to offer you . ' When the Princess reproved , the boys seldom resented it ; so Dolly held his peace , and Josie burst out , following her cousin 's lead , which she thought a happy one : ` Our boys like to have us talk with them , and take kindly any hints we give . They do n't think they know everything and are quite perfect at eighteen , as I 've observed the Harvard men do , especially the very young ones . '
Josie took immense satisfaction in that return shot ; and XXXXX showed that he was hit , by the nettled tone in which he answered , with a supercilious glance at the hot , dusty , and noisy crowd on the baseball ground : ` The class of fellows you have here need all the polish and culture you can give them ; and I 'm glad they get it .
Dolly Dolphus Harvard Josie Princess attack bon-bon day twaddle war