I'm her pretext.

That is--for it comes to the same thing--I'm your mother's." "Then why," Chad asked, "doesn't Mother come herself ?" His friend gave him a long look.

"Should you like her to ?" And as he for the moment said nothing: "It's perfectly open to you to cable for her." Chad continued to think.

"Will she come if I do ?" "Quite possibly.

But try, and you'll see." "Why don't YOU try ?" Chad after a moment asked.
"Because I don't want to." Chad thought.