Thirty minutes later you roll away from the curb and the
picnic has begun. The intervening time has, of course, been
profitably spent by you in walking to the nearest garage for two
new sparkplugs.
It should be your duty, as guest, to see that the conversation in
the rear seat is not allowed to lag. "It's a great day," you
remark, as the car speeds along. "I think it's going to rain,"
replies Aunt Florence. "Not too fast, Will!" says mother.
"Mother!" says the daughter.
Ten minutes later you should again remark, "My, what a wonderful
day!" "Those clouds are gathering in the west," says Aunt
Florence, "I think we had better put the top up." "I think this
is the wrong road," says mother.
"Dear, I know what I'm doing," replies father.
The secret of good conversation lies in discovering the "hobby"
of the person with whom one is conversing, and a good talker
always throws out several "feelers" in order to find out the
things in which his partner is most interested. You should,
therefore, next say to mother, "Don't you think this is a
glorious day for a picnic?" to which she will reply, "Well, I'm
sure this is the wrong road. Hadn't you better ask?" The husband
will answer nothing, but Aunt Florence will murmur, "I think I
felt a drop of rain, Will. If you don't put the top up now, we'll
all be drenched."
The husband will then stop the car, and you and he will proceed
to put up the top.
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