"My angel mother!"
That was too much for Harry, and he coughed huskily, in an attempt to break the spell without being rude. Frank immediately turned, and said:
"I beg your pardon, old man. I forgot myself, for a moment."
"Oh, don't pard my begoner—that is, begon my pard—no, I mean peg my bardon! Hang it all! I'm all twisted! I don't know what I am trying to say!"
In confusion Harry got up and went to look out of the window.
"Jeewhittaker! I'm glad Merry don't get this way often!" he thought. "Never knew him to do it before."
After some moments Frank declared:
"I am going to try to hush this Ditson matter up, Harry."
"You are?"
"Yes, for the sake of Ditson's mother. I want you to help me. We'll go see Putnam and Jones. If they have told anybody, we'll see the others. I am the one who has the greatest cause for complaint, and if I am willing to drop it, I am sure Putnam should be. Come on, old man. Let's not lose any time."