He followed her in and the subject was opened to him of the little fairy play.
He shook his head. “Can’t promise. That’s a good deal to spring on a fellow unbeknownst. I’ll have to think about it.”
“But can’t you go over to Agnes’s this evening to talk it over?” asked Celia.
Now Ben admired Agnes very much, though he would not have it known for the world. “I was going to Abercrombies,” he said with apparent reluctance.
“Oh, but you see Will Abercrombie every day,” said Celia coaxingly, “and we do so want to have your help, Ben.”
“Well, perhaps I can ’phone to Will not to expect me,” said Ben giving in. “But if I take hold of this thing you girls will all have to do your part.”
“Oh, we will,” Celia promised earnestly. “We are none of us up to an original play, but you are.”
“Such flattery,” laughed Ben. “Well, if I am going to call on ladies I must go up and make myself look respectable.”
“He’ll do it,” said Celia, as soon as her cousin had left the room. “He has as good as promised.”
Whatever was said that evening was not reported, but it is enough to say that Ben had promised to see what he could do, and would let them know later when he had gone over the subject more thoroughly, so with this the girls had to be satisfied.