"Got your dinner, sir; here it is," replied Tommy, opening the lid of the basket and displaying the contents.
"Are you a fool, or what are you?" vociferated the doctor.
"I don't know," responded Tommy, sulkily. "It seems as if I never can do anything right."
"Now, my boy," said the doctor, "you'll take this half-crown, and you'll go to a florist's to buy a bouquet of flowers. Having purchased the article, you will take it to Mrs. Jones, with my compliments, and explain that the dinner was your mistake."
"Yes, sir."
"If you make any blunder about it this time. I'll put leeches on you to suck your blood."
Tommy had to walk some distance to reach a florist's, and when he did, he found the man had only one bouquet left.
"How much for this?" he asked.
"Two and-six," replied the man; and Tommy, throwing down the half-crown, took up the bouquet, which was very pretty and tastefully arranged.
Going at once to Mrs. Jones', he was fortunate enough to find that the lady had just quitted the dinner table, and she saw him in the hall.