He was anxious, he said, to set up as a dentist, and had failed, so far, to find a suitable place.
The disappointment which Blue and Red experienced in finding that the handsome youth was a dentist by profession was made up for by the ecstasy of amusement it caused them to think of his desiring to set up his business in their house.

They would almost have forgiven Fate if she had withdrawn her latest novelty as suddenly as she had sent him, because his departure would have enabled them to give vent to the mirth the suppression of which was, at that moment a pain almost as great as their girlish natures could bear.
Oh, no, Mrs.Rexford said, they had no rooms to let in the house.
The stranger muttered something under his breath, which to an acute ear might have sounded like "Oh, Jemima!" but he looked so very disconsolate they could not help being sorry for him as he immediately replied, soberly enough, "I _am_ sorry.

I can't think of any place else to go, ma'am.

I'm _real_ tired, for I've been walking this long time in the loose snow.

Will you permit me to sit and rest for a time on the doorstep right outside here till I can think what I better do next ?" Blue fingered the back of a chair nervously.
"Take a chair by the stove and rest yourself," said Mrs.Rexford.