Patty thought quickly. “Till next Friday—a week from to-day.”
“Oh, you want to get acclimatised, all by yourself!”
“Yes,” said Patty, demurely, “I do. And if you’ll only keep away,—you know your aunt asked you not to come back for a week,—if you’ll keep away till next Friday, I’ll never ask you another favour.”
“Huh! that’s no inducement. I love to have you ask me favours.”
“Well, then, I never shall if you don’t grant this first one.”
“And if I do?”
“If you do I’ll promise you almost anything you ask.”
“That’s a large order! Well, if I stay away from this house until you get solid with Aunty Van——”
“I said a week.”
“Well, to-day’s Friday. If I stay away a week will you persuade aunty to invite me to dinner next Friday night?”