due at the South Station at four-thirty. She
seems to be very grateful to you for your offer to
let her come right here for a month; but she says
she's afraid you don't realize, perhaps, just what
you are doing--to take her in like that, with her
singing, and all.''

``Nonsense! She doesn't refuse, does she?''

``Oh, no; she doesn't refuse--but she doesn't
accept either, exactly, as I can see. I've read the
letter over twice, too. I'll let you judge for yourself
by and by, when you have time to read it.''

Billy laughed.

``Never mind. I don't want to read it. She's
just a little shy about coming, that's all. She'll
stay all right, when we come to meet her. What
time did you say it was, Thursday?''

``Half past four, South Station.''

``Thursday, at half past four. Let me see--
that's the day of the Carletons' `At Home,'
isn't it?''

``Oh, my grief and conscience, yes! But I had
forgotten it. What shall we do?''