. St. Nicholas [serial]. Dorothy had daringly ordered to be served onhis mothers Royal Worcester, but he behavedwith as great sang-froid as if his new first shav-ing-mug were of Sevres. Toward the end of the meal Jim saw his op-portunity to suggest a plan that had occurred tohim as being rather good. Both Mr. Brandonand Dr. Everett, he had learned, were enthusi-astic whist-players: why not invite in two whistcronies of his fathers, and thus keep the guestentertained through the evening ? But thissuggestion met with slight response from thelittle boy, who said, in substance, that hecould play w
. St. Nicholas [serial]. Dorothy had daringly ordered to be served onhis mothers Royal Worcester, but he behavedwith as great sang-froid as if his new first shav-ing-mug were of Sevres. Toward the end of the meal Jim saw his op-portunity to suggest a plan that had occurred tohim as being rather good. Both Mr. Brandonand Dr. Everett, he had learned, were enthusi-astic whist-players: why not invite in two whistcronies of his fathers, and thus keep the guestentertained through the evening ? But thissuggestion met with slight response from thelittle boy, who said, in substance, that hecould play whist any time, and the people hewanted to meet were the friends of his hostand hostess — if they could put up with an oldfellow like him. Put up with you! echoed Jim. Why,they d be complimented nearly out of theirwits! Which speech Dorothy frowned upon asgushing, not to mention inelegant; but it had agenuine ring that seemed rather to please thenoted writer than otherwise. After dinner, therefore, having first produced. HALF AN HOUR LATER THE TWO GEN- TLEMEN, IN DINNER GARB, WALKED232 INTO THE LIBRARY. THE LITTLE BOY. 233 a box of his fathers best cigars, Jim sought thetelephone in the hall. Barney Dudley, his ownparticular chum, and Maude Stuart, his cou-sins, were invited to come over and meet , who s staying with us. Barney wasabsent-minded that evening, and his bluntquery of Who in thunder s he ? was almostas difficult to answer as Maudes excited Whatshall I wear ? To both these demands hediplomatically replied, Ask your mother ; andDorothy, overhearing, wondered where Jim hadpicked up that sweet filial docility. On his return to the library, Mr. Brandonturned to the young man with the suspicion ofa twinkle in his eye. Capital cigars, these ofyours, little boy, he commented. I m gladto see you dont smoke, yourself. Dorothy listened anxiously, fearing sometransparent excuse; but Jim answered withcomposure, No; father does nt want me toyet, and she breathed again,
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