Or, better still, come home with me to tea.

I--I'll telephone up to the house." And he rose stiffly and went into the inner office.
Some minutes passed before he came back, red of face, and plainly distressed.
"My dear child, I--I'm sorry, but--but I'll have to take back that invitation," he blurted out miserably.

"My sisters are--are not well this afternoon.

Ann has been having a turn with her heart--you know Ann's heart is--is bad; and Letty--Letty is always nervous at such times--very nervous.

Er--I'm so sorry! But you'll--excuse it ?" "Indeed I will," smiled Billy, "and thank you just the same; only"-- her eyes twinkled mischievously--"you don't mind if I do say that it IS lucky that we hadn't gone on planning to have me live with them, Mr.
Harding!" "Eh?
Well--er, I think your plan about the Henshaws is very good," he interposed hurriedly.