Dinner was nearly over. The dessert had been succeeded by a dish of withered russet apples, when Mrs. Gray, leaning forward a little, said: "If the boarders will kindly remain a short time, Prof. Poppendorf has an interesting communication to make." The learned professor cleared his throat, removed his goggles for an instant, and after wiping them carefully with a red silk handkerchief, replaced them on a nose of large proportions. "My friends," he said, "on Thursday next I am to deliver a lecture at Schiller Hall, on Second Avenue, and I hope I may have the honor of seeing you all present. The tickets are fifty cents." "May I ask the subject of your lecture, Professor?" asked Mrs. Wyman, with an appearance of interest. "I shall lecture on 'The Material and the Immaterial,'" answered the Professor, in a deep bass voice. The boarders looked puzzled. The announcement of the subject did not seem to excite interest. "Shall you treat the subject in a popular manner, Prof. Poppendorf?" asked the Disagreeable Woman, in a tone that did not necessarily suggest sarcasm. Prof. Poppendorf seemed puzzled. "I do not know!" he answered, "if it will be popular--I hope it will be instructive." "Will there be any jokes in it, Professor?" asked Sam Lindsay, a vocalist from an uptown Dime Museum. "Jokes!" repeated the Professor, evidently scandalized. "It would not be appropriate. The subject is metaphysical. If you want jokes you must go to the variety theatre." "True," said Lindsay, "or to the Dime Museums. We've got a man at our place who will make you split your sides laughing." "I have here some tickets," continued the Professor, "some tickets which I shall be glad to dispose of in advance," and he drew out a package of perhaps twenty-five. "Miss Blagden, I hope you will patronize me." "You may give me two," said the Disagreeable Woman, drawing a dollar bill from her pocket, and passing it to the Professor. "You take two tickets?" said Mrs. Wyman, with a knowing smile. "I suppose there is a gentleman in the case." "You are mistaken," said the Disagreeable Woman, quietly. "You don't want both tickets for yourself, surely?" "No, I shall use neither of them." "You will give them away, then?" "I do not think so." "Why, then--" "Why then do I buy them? Out of compliment to our friend, Prof. Poppendorf, who, I hope, will win a success." "I thank you," said the Professor, "but I should be glad to have you honor my lecture with your presence." "I feel no particular interest in 'The Material and the Immaterial,'" said Mrs. Blagden. "Besides I am not sure whether I should get any clearer ideas respecting them from attending your lecture." "You do not flatter the Professor," said Mrs. Wyman, appearing shocked. "No, I never flatter any one. Why should I?" returned the Disagreeable Woman. "I like to be flattered," said the widow, simpering. "I like to be told that I am young and charming." "Even if you are not."