Question

read the following dialogue from \the man who could imitate a bee.\ \who is mr. mullett?\ he asked her as they rode tea - ward in her motor car, a product of the seriousness applied by mr. deyo, senior, to his brick business. \mr. mullett? why, hes one of the brookline mulletts,\ his mother said. \why?\ \is he an animal man?\
o; he sells insurance.\ \he seems popular.\ \oh, he has some parlor tricks.\ \i beg pardon, mother? the allusion escapes me.\ \parlor tricks,\ repeated his mother. \he imitates a trained seal; it appears to strike the younger people as excessively comical. i believe he can also swallow a lighted cigaret.\ hervey emitted a polite moan. \must one do parlor tricks?\ \they have their uses,\ said his mother. what conflict does this illustrate about hervey?

Explanation:

The dialogue shows Hervey seems to question the value or necessity of parlor - tricks that make Mr. Mullett popular. Hervey's polite moan and question "Must one do parlor tricks?" indicate his internal conflict about social expectations (like being popular through such tricks) versus his own values or understanding of what is appropriate or important.

Answer:

Hervey has an internal conflict about social expectations and his own values regarding parlor - tricks for popularity.